June 13, 2023 - 5:45pm
The number of Americans who believe it is “morally wrong” for a person to decide their own gender has increased over the past two years, according to a new survey.
A Gallup poll asked Americans about their views on transgenderism. It found that more than half (55%) said they do not think it is right to change’s one gender, up from 51% from May 2021. In addition, the poll found that there has been a decrease in the percentage of people who believe that it is “morally acceptable” for someone to change their gender, from 46% in 2021 to 43% this year.
Among people who know a transgender person and believe it is morally acceptable to change one’s gender, the percentage also fell between 2021 and 2023, from 40% to 33%.
The results of the survey arrive at a time when the transgender rights issue continues to dominate in the US. A number of bills pushing back on LGBT rights have been approved in states across the country, with Iowa, Mississippi, Kentucky and Oklahoma and Texas among those banning “gender-affirming care” for minors.
Despite an overwhelming majority of Republicans believing that it is morally wrong to change one’s gender (84%), there has been a shift in the opposite direction among Democrats. Unlike independents, 50% of whom now believe that it is morally wrong to change gender (up 2% from 2021), only 29% of Democrats agree with this statement (down 2% from two years ago).
As the GOP primary season heats up, the issue has become a major talking point for Republican candidates. During his 10th June campaign speech in North Carolina, Donald Trump even noted his surprise that “everyone goes crazy” when he mentions restricting transgender rights during his latest run for the White House. “Who would have thought? Five years ago, you didn’t know what the hell it was,” the former president added. During the same speech, Trump received a standing ovation from the crowd after vowing to cut federal funding from schools that taught critical race theory and “transgender insanity” to children.
Florida Governor and Republican rival Ron DeSantis has signed numerous LGBT-focused bills, such as HB 117, the legislation critics dubbed the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which prohibits the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in certain grades at Florida schools, as part of his plan to make the Sunshine State “where woke goes to die”.
In comparison, President Joe Biden has attempted to fight off such LGBT restrictions, including reversing the transgender military ban brought in under the Trump administration and Respect for Marriage Act, enshrining the recognition of same-sex marriages into federal law for the first time.
At a recent Pride event at the White House, Biden also hit out at the “hundreds of callous and cynical bills and laws” which have been introduced in states across the country. “Too many people in the LGBT community are worried and afraid about their future and their safety,” Biden said. “So today, I want to send a message to the entire community, especially to transgender children: You are loved.”
Join the discussion
Join like minded readers that support our journalism by becoming a paid subscriber
To join the discussion in the comments, become a paid subscriber.
Join like minded readers that support our journalism, read unlimited articles and enjoy other subscriber-only benefits.
SubscribeIt is utterly dishonest to conflate restrictions on “gender affirming care,” with anti LGBTQ sentiment. There’s a big difference and people who do this are manipulating language to further their own political agenda. They know they are lying and they do it anyway.
I don’t care what an adult does to their body. That’s up to them. Giving life-altering medical interventions to children is repugnant, unnecessary and homophobic. We know that the vast majority of children who suffer gender dysmorphia will grow out of it when they accept the fact they are gay. Altering their body so they can deny their sexuality is homophonic.
hear, hear.
Another dirty trick was the way the “trans” ideologues hitched themselves to the LGB movement.
When they say they are fighting for LGBTQ+ rights, or that the LGBTQ+ “community” is under attack, they are being dishonest. LGB have all the rights they wanted and none of them is under attack. It is the absurd concept of gender identity and “trans” rights that endanger women and children that are quite rightly being pushed back on.
The LGB should be distancing itself as much as possible from the trans ideolgues. Not only are parts of trans ideology antithetical to gay rights, the social acceptance of the LGB movement is being damaged by its association with a collection of deranged ideologues who advocate experimenting pharmaceutically and surgically on children.
Exactly right.
Exactly right.
This!
hear, hear.
Another dirty trick was the way the “trans” ideologues hitched themselves to the LGB movement.
When they say they are fighting for LGBTQ+ rights, or that the LGBTQ+ “community” is under attack, they are being dishonest. LGB have all the rights they wanted and none of them is under attack. It is the absurd concept of gender identity and “trans” rights that endanger women and children that are quite rightly being pushed back on.
The LGB should be distancing itself as much as possible from the trans ideolgues. Not only are parts of trans ideology antithetical to gay rights, the social acceptance of the LGB movement is being damaged by its association with a collection of deranged ideologues who advocate experimenting pharmaceutically and surgically on children.
This!
It is utterly dishonest to conflate restrictions on “gender affirming care,” with anti LGBTQ sentiment. There’s a big difference and people who do this are manipulating language to further their own political agenda. They know they are lying and they do it anyway.
I don’t care what an adult does to their body. That’s up to them. Giving life-altering medical interventions to children is repugnant, unnecessary and homophobic. We know that the vast majority of children who suffer gender dysmorphia will grow out of it when they accept the fact they are gay. Altering their body so they can deny their sexuality is homophonic.
“So today, I want to send a message to the entire community, especially to transgender children: You are loved.”
Loved? Not if you’re a political football, you’re not.
The trans brouhaha is rapidly becoming an object-lesson in how _not_ to effect change through protest. I can’t believe there was ever all that much of a problem in the first place. People changed gender, rarely. Their families, friends and work colleagues generally accepted the change.
The protestors demanded an acceptance of an extreme ideology that, quite reasonably, alarmed and frightened women. Something that had not been much of a problem before became a reason for people to be insulted, ostracised and sacked from their jobs. Confused children were given powerful drugs and had bits chopped off them. And for what?
“ideology that, quite reasonably, alarmed and frightened women.”
You see the stat about 70% of Demrats in favour of trans? If you strip out non college educated black / Hispanics, and men (both of whom might be closer to republican numbers), I think you will find that the proportion of college educated women that support trans is much higher, maybe 80-90%.
Agreed.
yes, this is an intra-female issue
Hardly, when the “chicks”with bits insist they’re women
Hardly, when the “chicks”with bits insist they’re women
Agreed.
yes, this is an intra-female issue
“ideology that, quite reasonably, alarmed and frightened women.”
You see the stat about 70% of Demrats in favour of trans? If you strip out non college educated black / Hispanics, and men (both of whom might be closer to republican numbers), I think you will find that the proportion of college educated women that support trans is much higher, maybe 80-90%.
“So today, I want to send a message to the entire community, especially to transgender children: You are loved.”
Loved? Not if you’re a political football, you’re not.
The trans brouhaha is rapidly becoming an object-lesson in how _not_ to effect change through protest. I can’t believe there was ever all that much of a problem in the first place. People changed gender, rarely. Their families, friends and work colleagues generally accepted the change.
The protestors demanded an acceptance of an extreme ideology that, quite reasonably, alarmed and frightened women. Something that had not been much of a problem before became a reason for people to be insulted, ostracised and sacked from their jobs. Confused children were given powerful drugs and had bits chopped off them. And for what?
And here we go again conflating the kick back against the trans-madness with attacks on LGBT rights.
The LGBs are doing just fine thank you.
The trans madness is conflated, very correctly, with LGB rights madness.
Because the whole pride and LGBT movement has become one crazy religious cult with creepy overtones of child grooming, public displays of indecency and constant overreach.
It’s not about LGB rights anymore, just like trans is not about T rights anymore.
The trans madness is conflated, very correctly, with LGB rights madness.
Because the whole pride and LGBT movement has become one crazy religious cult with creepy overtones of child grooming, public displays of indecency and constant overreach.
It’s not about LGB rights anymore, just like trans is not about T rights anymore.
And here we go again conflating the kick back against the trans-madness with attacks on LGBT rights.
The LGBs are doing just fine thank you.
Is this really a question of “morality” or is it about reality (scientific facts) ? Or even sanity ? Asking about the supposed morility of this seems the wrong question to be putting here. “Garbage in, garbage out” as they say in computing.
This snowball’s just going to get bigger and bigger until we get back to scientific reality, sanity and common sense in these matters.
Back to my all time favourite quote from The Guardian’s comments 09-Nov-16:
“When the history is written about the failure of progressive politics in 2015 and 2016 I hope that somebody writes a chapter on the trans / transgender toilets issue. All it shows is a group fighting for perfection for the hundreds when all around them are the millions fighting — and failing — to survive.”
Is this really a question of “morality” or is it about reality (scientific facts) ? Or even sanity ? Asking about the supposed morility of this seems the wrong question to be putting here. “Garbage in, garbage out” as they say in computing.
This snowball’s just going to get bigger and bigger until we get back to scientific reality, sanity and common sense in these matters.
Back to my all time favourite quote from The Guardian’s comments 09-Nov-16:
“When the history is written about the failure of progressive politics in 2015 and 2016 I hope that somebody writes a chapter on the trans / transgender toilets issue. All it shows is a group fighting for perfection for the hundreds when all around them are the millions fighting — and failing — to survive.”
The most fascinating piece of the poll is completely glossed over: “among people who know a transgender person, the percentage who believe it is morally acceptable also fell between 2021 and 2023, from 40% to 33%.”
So 43% of Americans overall think transgenderism is morally defensible, but those who actually know a transgender person themselves are 10 points LESS likely to think changing gender is acceptable? This is exactly the opposite conclusion that early civil rights surveys found: more familiarity with black people personally made whites more inclined to support civil rights. However, a deeper familiarity with trans people actually turns normies away from their point of view instead of towards it.
More evidence that the trans crowd has vastly overreached.
I thought this was strange too and thought it v significant. But looking at the original source (a gallup poll), I think the article is misquoting the data: in May 2023 55% of all respondants thought it was morally wrong to change gender (a number that had increased 4% since 2 years earlier) VS 40% if you knew a transgender person (a number that has increased by 1% since 2 years ago). So not much to see there as if you know someone trans you are less likely to think them morally wrong. Incidentally, the gallup data’s most impressive finding IMO was omitted: the % supporting trans peole competing in the sport as the gender that they chose has collapsed from 34% to 26%. Go Lia Thomas!
Yes, that stat makes more sense. We know that familiarity with any minority group decreases moral or instinctive objections to them, as people respond to one on one relationships. There’s a very good side to this, of course, but also a dangerous side because people then ignore the wider social dimensions if these are bad. That’s why I’m convinced that encouraging children to become trans is designed to ensure many are acquainted with at least one trans person, making it more acceptable.
Yes, that stat makes more sense. We know that familiarity with any minority group decreases moral or instinctive objections to them, as people respond to one on one relationships. There’s a very good side to this, of course, but also a dangerous side because people then ignore the wider social dimensions if these are bad. That’s why I’m convinced that encouraging children to become trans is designed to ensure many are acquainted with at least one trans person, making it more acceptable.
I thought this was strange too and thought it v significant. But looking at the original source (a gallup poll), I think the article is misquoting the data: in May 2023 55% of all respondants thought it was morally wrong to change gender (a number that had increased 4% since 2 years earlier) VS 40% if you knew a transgender person (a number that has increased by 1% since 2 years ago). So not much to see there as if you know someone trans you are less likely to think them morally wrong. Incidentally, the gallup data’s most impressive finding IMO was omitted: the % supporting trans peole competing in the sport as the gender that they chose has collapsed from 34% to 26%. Go Lia Thomas!
The most fascinating piece of the poll is completely glossed over: “among people who know a transgender person, the percentage who believe it is morally acceptable also fell between 2021 and 2023, from 40% to 33%.”
So 43% of Americans overall think transgenderism is morally defensible, but those who actually know a transgender person themselves are 10 points LESS likely to think changing gender is acceptable? This is exactly the opposite conclusion that early civil rights surveys found: more familiarity with black people personally made whites more inclined to support civil rights. However, a deeper familiarity with trans people actually turns normies away from their point of view instead of towards it.
More evidence that the trans crowd has vastly overreached.
I suspect the majority of those who consider it morally acceptable to change one’s gender have no idea of the implications and ramifications of allowing people to change gender. Exchanging the word sex for gender also acts to obscure what is actually going on. I wonder what the results of the survey would have been if participants were asked about the moral acceptability of changing one’s sex.
I suspect the majority of those who consider it morally acceptable to change one’s gender have no idea of the implications and ramifications of allowing people to change gender. Exchanging the word sex for gender also acts to obscure what is actually going on. I wonder what the results of the survey would have been if participants were asked about the moral acceptability of changing one’s sex.
I have said this before. This evil cult has been creeping in through the back door. Giving AGPs the go ahead by having a Gender Recognition Certificate. This magical piece of paper turns a man with a fetish into a woman. These brave men hiding in the shadows are now out in the open. This has encouraged all sorts of sexual depravities to glue themselves onto the LGB community. This is a top down issue. Get rid of the GRB, make chemical and surgical interventions illegal and guess what the AGPs will slither back into their bedrooms to cross dress. The young impressionable children will see that changing sex is impossible. Language has to stop such as transgender, transition, trans women and men, non binary and bring back transvestite.
What is AGP?
Autogynophile (sp?) straight bloke aroused by dressing in ladies clothes and underwear. We called them cross dressers back in the day.
“Aggressive paedo.”
Autogynophile (sp?) straight bloke aroused by dressing in ladies clothes and underwear. We called them cross dressers back in the day.
“Aggressive paedo.”
There are only a few thousand trans people in the UK who actually have a gender recognition certificate (I think its around 7000, figure obtained from a recent debate in parliament about whether to clarify equalities legislation). However, there is supposedly over 100,000 people who identify as trans. Problem is, in the current climate, all these people are treated the same – regardless of the fact that a fair amount of the 100,000 are just perverted men, too many of whom want access to women’s spaces.
Exactly right.
What is AGP?
There are only a few thousand trans people in the UK who actually have a gender recognition certificate (I think its around 7000, figure obtained from a recent debate in parliament about whether to clarify equalities legislation). However, there is supposedly over 100,000 people who identify as trans. Problem is, in the current climate, all these people are treated the same – regardless of the fact that a fair amount of the 100,000 are just perverted men, too many of whom want access to women’s spaces.
Exactly right.
I have said this before. This evil cult has been creeping in through the back door. Giving AGPs the go ahead by having a Gender Recognition Certificate. This magical piece of paper turns a man with a fetish into a woman. These brave men hiding in the shadows are now out in the open. This has encouraged all sorts of sexual depravities to glue themselves onto the LGB community. This is a top down issue. Get rid of the GRB, make chemical and surgical interventions illegal and guess what the AGPs will slither back into their bedrooms to cross dress. The young impressionable children will see that changing sex is impossible. Language has to stop such as transgender, transition, trans women and men, non binary and bring back transvestite.
I accept that a few people (is it about 1%?) feel compelled to change their gender. I further feel that they should be free to choose that, if they are adults, and not be criticised. But I feel the majority should also be free to not have society disrupted by the few. If some conflict arises, the few should be the ones to adapt.
It’s less than 1%
Its 0.01% to be precise.
It’s less than 1%
Its 0.01% to be precise.
I accept that a few people (is it about 1%?) feel compelled to change their gender. I further feel that they should be free to choose that, if they are adults, and not be criticised. But I feel the majority should also be free to not have society disrupted by the few. If some conflict arises, the few should be the ones to adapt.
Biden – ‘So today, I want to send a message to the entire community, especially to transgender children: You are loved.” ‘
Don’t forget – the idea that they are coming for our kids is a scandalous conspiracy theory and Right-wing talking point disinformation.
The progressives ARE coming for the kids, both by supporting their genital mutilation at a young age and by encouraging their exposure to grotesque and sexualised performances and ‘education’ in schools. No children do not, among many other things, require exposure to ‘Drag Queen Story Hour’, or indeed instructions as to how to masturbate. I’m a gay man and have seen a lot of drag shows – it is deeply dishonest to claim that these are not full of highly sexualised innuendo.
It is strange how drag shows in Northern working-mens clubs went from being cesspits of vile misogyny to something we can all take Pride in.
It is strange how drag shows in Northern working-mens clubs went from being full of vile misogyny to something we can all take Pride in.
It is strange how drag shows in Northern working-mens clubs went from being full of vile innuendo to something we can all take pride in.
It is strange how drag shows in Northern clubs went from being full of vile innuendo to something we can all take pride in.
The poster’s second paragraph was “sarc”.
It is strange how drag shows in Northern working-mens clubs went from being cesspits of vile misogyny to something we can all take Pride in.
It is strange how drag shows in Northern working-mens clubs went from being full of vile misogyny to something we can all take Pride in.
It is strange how drag shows in Northern working-mens clubs went from being full of vile innuendo to something we can all take pride in.
It is strange how drag shows in Northern clubs went from being full of vile innuendo to something we can all take pride in.
The poster’s second paragraph was “sarc”.
The progressives ARE coming for the kids, both by supporting their genital mutilation at a young age and by encouraging their exposure to grotesque and sexualised performances and ‘education’ in schools. No children do not, among many other things, require exposure to ‘Drag Queen Story Hour’, or indeed instructions as to how to masturbate. I’m a gay man and have seen a lot of drag shows – it is deeply dishonest to claim that these are not full of highly sexualised innuendo.
Biden – ‘So today, I want to send a message to the entire community, especially to transgender children: You are loved.” ‘
Don’t forget – the idea that they are coming for our kids is a scandalous conspiracy theory and Right-wing talking point disinformation.
“Morally acceptable” is not the point. It is not physically possible to change genders. You can mutilate your genitals, take massive hormones and wear thick layers of make-up or grow a beard, and it has not changed your male or female foundation one bit. You are just really messed up, not only psychologically but now physically.
Yes. Precisely. The poll is filled with gender ideology nomenclature – such as “current gender identity” and “birth gender” for example. I presume gender here means “sex”, but that is not at all clear.
The poll is so steeped in the ignorance of biological categories that I am surprised the above article does not address these issues.
Messing up your body like that is what is immoral. Just like smoking cigarettes or taking dangerous drugs. Morality is not just being nice to old ladies who want to cross the street; it is about treating your body like the temple it is.
Yes. Precisely. The poll is filled with gender ideology nomenclature – such as “current gender identity” and “birth gender” for example. I presume gender here means “sex”, but that is not at all clear.
The poll is so steeped in the ignorance of biological categories that I am surprised the above article does not address these issues.
Messing up your body like that is what is immoral. Just like smoking cigarettes or taking dangerous drugs. Morality is not just being nice to old ladies who want to cross the street; it is about treating your body like the temple it is.
“Morally acceptable” is not the point. It is not physically possible to change genders. You can mutilate your genitals, take massive hormones and wear thick layers of make-up or grow a beard, and it has not changed your male or female foundation one bit. You are just really messed up, not only psychologically but now physically.
Regardless of the number of people who believe it is “morally wrong for a person to choose their own gender” it is scientifically impossible to change gender. A biological man who chooses to walk like, talk like, act like, and dress like a woman, take hormones and surgically mutilate their body, is still a man. The word “trans” implies that you can literally transition or change from one sex to another. Scientifically there is no such thing as a transsexual. Maybe faux sexual would be a better term?
Regardless of the number of people who believe it is “morally wrong for a person to choose their own gender” it is scientifically impossible to change gender. A biological man who chooses to walk like, talk like, act like, and dress like a woman, take hormones and surgically mutilate their body, is still a man. The word “trans” implies that you can literally transition or change from one sex to another. Scientifically there is no such thing as a transsexual. Maybe faux sexual would be a better term?
This made me Laugh out Loud: ” During his 10th June campaign speech in North Carolina, Donald Trump even noted his surprise that “everyone goes crazy” when he mentions restricting transgender rights during his latest run for the White House. “Who would have thought? Five years ago, you didn’t know what the hell it was,” the former president added.”
This made me Laugh out Loud: ” During his 10th June campaign speech in North Carolina, Donald Trump even noted his surprise that “everyone goes crazy” when he mentions restricting transgender rights during his latest run for the White House. “Who would have thought? Five years ago, you didn’t know what the hell it was,” the former president added.”
About damned time…
About damned time…
A poll based on flawed questions. For instance, part of what you’re asking is “Are you the sort of person who goes around labeling other people as ‘morally wrong?'” I’m not, and I don’t think I’m alone.
Also, the poll is simply incomplete. Without an “undecided” option we never know what the findings actually mean. It could be that an overwhelming majority don’t really care about any of this.
Also (while I’m at it), once upon a time poll results were quoted with a notation of the margin of error, expressed as a percentage, after each finding. It made statistics seem more trustworthy, less artful.
You make some very valid criticisms.
I don’t think it’s a case of labelling people morally wrong, rather it is labelling the issue or the act. Is it morally wrong to abort later than 24 weeks of gestation is a question about abortion not about women who have had an abortion.
You make some very valid criticisms.
I don’t think it’s a case of labelling people morally wrong, rather it is labelling the issue or the act. Is it morally wrong to abort later than 24 weeks of gestation is a question about abortion not about women who have had an abortion.
A poll based on flawed questions. For instance, part of what you’re asking is “Are you the sort of person who goes around labeling other people as ‘morally wrong?'” I’m not, and I don’t think I’m alone.
Also, the poll is simply incomplete. Without an “undecided” option we never know what the findings actually mean. It could be that an overwhelming majority don’t really care about any of this.
Also (while I’m at it), once upon a time poll results were quoted with a notation of the margin of error, expressed as a percentage, after each finding. It made statistics seem more trustworthy, less artful.
In your reporting, please do not perpetuate the forced teaming of LGB with T by using that horrid acronym, which pains many lesbians and gays. This is not our movement, but through that acronym, we are associated with the harm it does. The rights of gay people are not at issue here, though people who buy into the forced teaming of disparate groups (“LGBTQ+” etc.) by gender ideologues now think less of us by association.
The legislation Biden references is a pushback against attempts to claim nonexistent “rights” trans-identified people (mostly male) wish to claim for themselves: i.e access to women’s sports and other single-sex female spaces. Other bills attempt to stop the unprecedented mass social, medical and surgical experiment on vulnerable minors (“gender-affirming care”) that more sensible countries, like yours, have re-thought.
The question in this survey is unfortunately put. Many of us oppose gender ideology not because we consider it “morally wrong” for adults, but because of these concerns about protecting children and female rights. Those of us who are gender-critical are liberal as well as conservative, gay as well as straight. Biden’s blinkered advocating for “trans rights” and the uncritcal “affirmation” of confused youth is partly responsible for states taking matters into their own hands. I will not again vote for him under any circumstance.