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New Poll Shows Americans’ Views on Transgender Athletes

Madeline Leesman
Madeline Leesman  |  June 12, 2023 1:30 PM

Polls in recent years have shown that the majority of Americans oppose allowing biological males who identify as “transgender” to compete in women’s sports. Last June, Townhall reported how a poll conducted by The Washington Post and the University of Maryland found that the majority of Americans – 55 percent – believe in separating sports by biological sex. A separate poll published by Pew Research found that 58 percent of Americans favor requirements for transgender athletes to compete on sports teams that align with their biological sex. Another poll conducted by Summit Ministries and McLaughlin and Associates showed that the majority of Americans believe that transgender athletes are harming women’s sports. In the findings, 60 percent of respondents said that the Biden administration’s recent Title IX changes that allow “sex” to include “gender identity” and allow transgender athletes to compete against women has had a “harmful impact to women’s sports and biological female athletes.” 

A new poll published this week showed that a smaller percentage of Americans support allowing transgender athletes to compete on teams that align with their “gender identity,” and a growing number of Americans believe that changing one’s gender is “morally wrong" rather than "morally acceptable."

According to a Gallup poll released Monday, a larger majority (69 percent) of Americans than in 2021 (62 percent) say that transgender athletes should only be allowed to participate on sports teams that align with their biological sex. And, fewer Americans, 26 percent say that transgender athletes should be permitted to play on teams that align with their gender identity, down from 34 percent.

“Republicans, Democrats and independents are all modestly less supportive of transgender athletes playing on current gender identity teams today than two years ago,” Gallup’s write-up stated. “The result of these changes is that Democrats are now divided on allowing transgender athletes to play on either male or female teams, while in 2021 more were in favor than opposed. Large majorities of independents (67%) and Republicans (93%) remain opposed to giving transgender athletes a choice of competing on male or female teams.”

Gallup noted that over 20 states have created law to protect women’s sports from transgender athletes. In addition, several states have passed laws restricting access to irreversible transgender surgeries and hormone therapy for minors. These policies, it noted, are “generally in line with U.S. public opinion on the issue.”

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Additionally, a majority of Americans, 55 percent, consider “changing one’s gender” to be “morally wrong.” On the other hand, 43 percent said they believe it is “morally acceptable.” Compared to results collected by Gallup in 2021, 51 percent of respondents said that changing one’s gender was “morally wrong,” while 46 percent said it was “morally acceptable.” 

“Sixty percent of 18- to 29-year-olds say changing one’s gender is morally acceptable. Among those aged 30 to 49, 48% say it is morally acceptable and 50% say morally wrong. But among Americans aged 50 and older, less than one-third of Americans, 32%, believe it is OK morally for a person to change their gender,” the write-up explained. “Older Americans are less likely now than in 2021 (39%) to believe changing one’s gender is morally acceptable. Americans under age 50 have similar views to 2021.”

“This is further proof that if anyone is ‘extreme’ on gender issues, it’s the progressive activists,” Nicki Neily, president of Parents Defending Education, told Townhall. “[Progressive activists’] views are out of step not only with Americans of all racial backgrounds, but also with their own political base.”