Rating: Transsupportive, Erin in the Morning, November 17, 2023 (PDF archive) (HTML archive) (Take Action)
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Content Summary
New Poll: 76% Say Trans Care For Trans Youth Should Be Decided By Parents Or Doctors
Over the past three years, 21 states have implemented bans or severe limitations on gender-affirming care for transgender youth. These prohibitions were enacted despite significant resistance from parents and medical professionals who have emphasized that such care is lifesaving for transgender youth in need. Despite this, numerous Republicans have expressed the belief that targeting on transgender youth is a “political winner” for their re-election prospects. However, in the 2023 elections, candidates who featured attacks on trans youth at the forefront of their campaigns suffered significant defeats. Now, a new Data For Progress survey reveals that the broader public does not favor legislative interference in transgender issues. Instead, a decisive 76% of likely voters believe that the decision regarding access to care for transgender youth should rest with parents or medical practitioners.
In the poll, likely voters were asked who they thought should be able to make the final decision on who can access gender affirming care. 54% of respondents stated that the parents of trans youth should make that decision, while 22% said that the decision should belong with the doctors of the trans youth. Only 12% of people answered that the elected state lawmakers should be able to make the decision around whether or not a trans youth should be able to access gender affirming care. Moreover, even Republicans opposed legislative interference in trans care; only 16% of Republicans answered that such decisions should be handled by the legislature.
The survey also questioned respondents about the creation of a transgender bill of rights. This year, Senate Resolution 144 was proposed which would codify the right to medical care, education, housing, employment, and more for transgender people. Such a resolution also has a plurality of public support, with 48% supporting such a bill and 43% opposing it.
You can see the crosstabs here:
Though previous polling has been unclear around transgender issues, one continuing theme of polls taken on this question is that voters oppose making attacks on trans youth a political priority. Earlier this year, a Fox News poll stated that 86% of people in the United States view attacks on trans youth as a major problem or a minor problem. That same poll also found that only 1% of voters name “trans/woke issues” a top priority. Another poll found that a majority of people believe that there is too much legislation targeting trans people and that these bills are wedge issues.
This year, voters considered candidates across the United States who made trans issues a top priority. Those candidates did not fare very well on election night. Moms For Liberty an Project 1776 backed candidates lost 70% of their races. Virginia saw the House and the Senate go to Democrats after Governor Glen Youngkin campaigned for his party on a platform that targeted trans youth throughout the state. Governor Beshear in Kentucky faced a torrent of ads for his veto of a gender affirming care ban on trans youth, and yet he won by more than he did in his first race. Clearly, this issue has not delivered political victories for Republicans. This new poll may explain why that is the case.
Now, heading into 2024, candidates who have made trans issues a major priority and have passed bans on trans care for youth will face a real test on the popularity of their positions. If this poll is correct, they may face an uphill battle in swing districts nationwide.
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