Transphobia is a Powerful Force in American Politics, but Young Voters are Leading a Cultural Shift Towards Inclusion
By Erin Thomas
Conservative politicians have engineered a moral panic around the existence of transgender people in America. Across the country, dozens of states are fast-tracking legislation aimed at banning transgender children from sports and prohibiting them from pursuing medical transition. In Texas, Governor Abbot has directed Family and Protective Services to investigate doctors, nurses, teachers, and parents who help children pursue gender-affirming care and charge them with child abuse.
New Data For Progress polling reveals the powerful resilience of transphobia in American politics. While a slight plurality of voters believe that the increased rights and visibility of transgender people has made society better, a sizable portion believe it has made society worse. Similarly, while a slight plurality of voters believe that the government ought to protect transgender rights, a sizable portion disagrees. These opinions vary sharply by age, party affiliation, and whether or not someone personally knows a transgender person. While older Americans are less accepting of transgender people, younger voters are leading a cultural shift towards a more inclusive political culture.
Younger Adults are More Likely to Know a Trans Person
47% of likely voters ages 18 to 29 say they personally know someone who identifies as transgender. Across all age groups, only 26% of likely voters say they personally know someone who identifies as transgender.
A Plurality of Voters Support Trans People and Trans Rights, but Support for Anti-Trans Youth Legislation Is Strong
45% of likely voters say that the increased visibility and rights of transgender individuals have made society better, compared with 42% who say it has made society worse. The partisan split on this question is vast, with 71% of Democrats saying that the increased visibility and rights of transgender individuals have made society better. Only 44% of Independents and 19% of Republicans share this view.
47% of likely voters say that the government should protect the rights of transgender people, even if it means changing traditional family structures and social norms. Conversely, 42% of likely voters say that the government should protect traditional family structures and social norms over the rights of transgender people. The partisan split on this question is similarly vast. 70% of Democrats say that the government should protect the rights of transgender people. 51% of Independents and 20% of Republicans share this view.
Only 38% of likely voters say that laws preventing transgender children from participating in sports and pursuing medical transition are discriminatory, compared to 48% who think these laws are necessary to ensure children’s safety and wellbeing. While a majority of Democrats and young voters view these laws as discriminatory, only 38% of Independents and 17% of Republicans share this view.
Opinions on Trans Rights Are Deeply Divided by Age, Party Affiliation, and Having Personally Known a Trans Person
Opinions on trans people differ drastically based on political identity. A majority of Democrats believe that transgender people have made society better, that the government ought to protect their rights, and that banning transgender children from participating in sports or pursuing medical transition is discriminatory. A strong majority of Republicans disagree on all of these points. Independents sit somewhere in between, but are somewhat less receptive to the idea that transgender children should be allowed to play sports and pursue medical transition.
Respondents who personally know a trans person expressed a much more positive view on the rights and visibility of transgender people. 69% of likely voters who know a trans person believe that the increased visibility and rights of transgender individuals have made society better. Among voters who do not know a transgender person, only 36% share this view.
Similarly, 68% of likely voters who know a trans person say that the government should protect the rights of transgender people, even if it means changing traditional family structures and social norms. Among voters who do not know a transgender person, only 40% share this view.
Our polling found that young voters express much more support for trans people than their older counterparts. Notably, young voters are much more likely to view anti-trans youth bills as unfair and discriminatory. 56% of likely voters ages 18-29 say that bills preventing trans youth from participating in competitive sports or pursuing medical transition are unfair and discriminatory.
Takeaways
The deluge of anti-transgender legislation making its way through state legislatures reveals an undeniable truth — transphobic politics are a key political strategy guiding the American right. This polling illustrates that these ideas retain a powerful resilience with the American public. Democrats must be resolute and unwavering in our defense of transgender rights. If we fail to do so, we risk the unneeded suffering of an entire generation of transgender children. Quickly, we may find ourselves in a situation where we are unable to quash the flame of transphobia being galvanized by the American right.
Erin Thomas (@erin_c_thomas) is a Senior Software Engineer at Data for Progress.