Fact check: Is it true that the percentage of gay people in Bulgaria is 17?

1. Summary of the results

The claim that 17% of people in Bulgaria are gay cannot be verified with the available data. The only concrete statistic specific to Bulgaria comes from a 2008 school survey which found that 1.8% of students identified as gay ^{[1] [1]}. Globally, approximately 8% of people identify as homosexual, bisexual, or pansexual ^[2], but this figure cannot be directly applied to Bulgaria.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual factors need to be considered:

• Data collection challenges: Accurate statistics are difficult to obtain in Bulgaria due to social stigma and fear of persecution ^{[1] [1]}
• Generational differences: Younger generations are generally more open about their sexuality ^[2]
• Survey limitations: The only available Bulgarian statistic (1.8%) comes from a school survey, which is not representative of the entire population ^[1]
• Changing social attitudes: The sources indicate evolving attitudes towards LGBTI people in Bulgaria, as evidenced by a 2012 survey ^[1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The stated figure of 17% appears to be unsupported by available data. Several factors could contribute to misrepresentation:

• Statistical manipulation: The significant gap between the only available local statistic (1.8%) and the claimed 17% suggests potential manipulation or misinterpretation of data
• Political agenda: Various groups might benefit from either inflating or deflating these numbers:
• Conservative groups might benefit from lower numbers to minimize LGBTI visibility
• LGBTI advocacy groups might benefit from higher numbers to demonstrate greater representation
• Methodology concerns: The difficulty in obtaining accurate data due to social stigma ^[1] means that any single percentage should be treated with caution