A majority of American adults know someone who is homosexual.

In a new poll, 70 percent of heterosexual adults in the United States said that they know someone who is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender -- often referred to as GLBT.

More than half of those polled who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (54 percent) said that concern about being the victim of a hate crime would be a reason for a person to not come out.

Other concerns that GLBT adults cited about why a person might not come out included rejection by their families (39 percent), rejection by their friends (32 percent) and losing their jobs (27 percent).

Those were some of the main points reported after a nationwide online survey of 2,932 U.S. adults ages 18 and over. Of those polled, 2,548 indicated they are heterosexual and 324 self-identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

Of those polled, 83 percent of those who self-identify as gay or lesbian consider themselves out. In general, when all GLBT respondents were asked if they considered themselves open about their sexual orientation, large majorities of them said they are out to their close friends (92 percent) and to their parents (78 percent).

Many gays and lesbians in the poll also indicated they are out to other relatives such as grandparents or cousins (68 percent), acquaintances and to casual friends (68 percent) and to co-workers and colleagues (66 percent).

"Though attitudes throughout American society toward gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people have changed tremendously over the past several decades, it's not surprising to learn that there is still a widespread concern among gays and lesbians about becoming a victim of hate if they are open about their sexual orientation," said Wes Combs, President of Witeck-Combs Communications. "But the results of this survey are encouraging about the numbers of people who choose to be open in spite of the risks."

"If seven out of 10 heterosexuals know someone who is GLBT, then many gays and lesbians are making their identity apparent as a natural part of their lives -- just like their age, height, hair color or personality," said Mark Shields, director of the Human Rights Campaign’s National Coming Out Project. "For most people, coming out or opening up to someone starts with a conversation. And for those interested in fostering strong, deep relationships with their friends and family, living openly often allows for closer relationships with the people they care about most."

The survey was conducted between Sept. 7 and 14, 2006, by Harris Interactive, a worldwide market research and consulting firm, in conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc.

To see the full results of the Harris poll, click here.