What Do Americans Think About Trans Rights?

This election cycle, right-wing extremists have made the LGBTQ+ community broadly and the American trans community in particular a flashpoint. Framing the debate in the name of protecting children from LGBTQ+ people is an old, bigoted (and effective) tactic that creates a reliable social wedge issue in the American political ecosphere.

The movement for acceptance and inclusion has undoubtedly made significant strides in the last 20 years, with 71 percent of Americans supporting marriage equality, according to a recent Gallup poll. 

However, Republicans in 13 states have signed pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation into law, with another 23 states having introduced anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, according to Human Rights Campaign data.

Americans agree on certain policies regarding transgender people but not on others, notes the Pew Research Center.

Just 8 percent of Americans follow news about transgender bills introduced by states very closely or extremely closely, according to a survey conducted between May 16-22 among 10,188 U.S. adults. Two-thirds of people don’t follow the issue.

Take a closer look at how the public feels about some state policies affecting transgender Americans and how those views differ.