Is "2 percent gay" wrong? Or "bad"?

The Religious Right is already trying to make hay with new demographic research saying gays and lesbians may "only" be 2 percent of the population, not 3-5 percent.

But, the study notes another 2 percent identify as bisexual. And, that many straights have "experimented."

But, the Religious Right is still trying to "run" with this.

Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for policy studies with the conservative Family Research Center, welcomed Gates' findings as further repudiation of the Kinsey 1-in-10 estimate.

Sprigg also was intrigued by the relatively high portion of bisexual people tallied by Gates.

"I see this as somewhat of a problem for the gay political movement," Sprigg said. "It undermines the idea that being born homosexual is an immutable characteristic that can't be changed."

First, many gay rights advocates have long moved beyond using "immutability" as an anchor for gay rights arguments.

Second, many gays are "gay from birth," even if many are not.

Second, as I noted, the "activity" numbers should give Sprigg additional food for thought. If as many people as identified as "gay/lesbian" or "bisexual" combined have been OK with having at least one same-sex sexual experience, it undercuts HIS argument that homosexuality is unnatural.

And, they do.

More than 8 percent of U.S. adults have had at least one same-sex sexual experience. While that's not the 1-in-10 of some estimates on gay/lesbian numbers, it's close enough, in terms of at least one-time activity, it ought to shut up the Religious Right.

Gary Gates, the researcher behind the numbers, says the lower percentage for "gay/lesbian" than conventional wisdom is probably because nobody sorted out the data like he has.

In any case, a dialogue on the numbers is part of what he wants.

"Yes, this is a credible estimate, but I'm fine to have a debate with someone about whether I'm right or wrong," he said. "The academic side of me says everything comes with caveats. But there is a level of power associated with having a number that can move dialogues along and hopefully move things forward."

And, with the exception of people like Sprigg, that's where we're at.

Gay rights advocates shouldn't worry over exact numbers, nor the "immutability" angle, for those still attached to it. Rather, the positive side is the "experimented" angle, and using those numbers to show just how many Americans are OK with same-sex sexuality.

Of course, the RR is using the number of "experimenters" for claims that gay-to-straight "cures" actually are such.

The reality? "Experimenters" in general are exactly that. Some may move more into bisexual territory, but few are likely to eventually identify as "primarily gay/lesbian." And, I'd guess that if we asked "experimenters" who do eventually identify that way if they were "repressing," we'd get at least a few yes answers. So, the "experimenters" prove nothing.

Beyond that, this might be like the Census allowing for "multiracial" identification; we might see more honest dialogue about sexuality in general.

And that, in turn, would probably really scare the Religious Right.