In the space of three weeks, South Korea has seen a brief declaration of martial law, its sudden repeal and the impeachment of its president, Yoon Suk Yeol.

One underappreciated driver of the recent drama is the rise of YouTube-based agitators, activists and influencers, who both benefit from and fuel a new brand of populism. The effects in South Korea are stark – but the trend is global.

Damien Nguyen is 22, out, loud and proud – in every sense.

Nguyen, who uses he/they pronouns, sits on the Mardi Gras board and helps run the activist group Pride in Protest.

They say the process of coming out is gradual – but for them, it’s been three to four years.

Like many young queer Australians, Nguyen is living an open life. Landmark data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics released Thursday revealed almost one in 10 young people aged 16 to 24 are LGBTQ+.

But the data shows a huge difference between generations, with 2.9% of Australians aged between 45 and 54 identifying as LGBTQ+, and 1.4% of people 75 and over.

Linda Fardell, the ABS head of health statistics, says more than 900,000 Australians identify as LGBTQ+, or 4.5% of Australians aged 16 and over.

“Younger Australians are more likely to be LGBTI+,” Farrell says.

Adrian Murdoch, the general manager of brand and business development at Minus18, says he doesn’t think there is “just suddenly more and more [of us]”.

“I think we’re just getting a real reflection because people finally feel comfortable to express that.”

Murdoch says the “generational change” has been born from safety and acceptance.

“This increase in LGBTQ+ young people, I liken that to the example of people who are now known and openly left-handed,” he says.

“Many decades ago, it was actually really frowned upon to be left-handed.”

He says the comparison “sounds bizarre” but society has changed to accept LGBTQ+ Australians.

Murdoch says there are more people that the census did not pick up.

“It gives us a reflection of those who have maybe really affirmed that part of their expression. But for many others, it’s a journey that they’re still on.”

‘Generational change’: why more young Australians are identifying as LGBTQ+

‘I think we’re just getting a real reflection because people finally feel comfortable to express that,’ campaigner says

^{Cait Kelly (The Guardian)}

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