How Knowing a Trans Person Affects Your Attitude on LGBTQ+ Rights

There’s a strong correlation between knowing someone who’s transgender and supporting trans equality and LGBTQ+ causes in general, according to a new survey from Data for Progress.

This is particularly pronounced among independent voters, Data for Progress notes, adding that the survey underscores stark differences between Democrats and Republicans on LGBTQ+ issues.

Data for Progress conducted the survey from September 29 through October 1 among 1,229 likely voters and released the findings for National Coming Out Day. The margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points.

Related: Coming Out Day - A Brief History

Among the key findings was that only 30 percent of respondents know someone who is transgender, and 21 percent know someone who is nonbinary. In comparison, 69 percent know someone who is gay, and 62 percent know something who is or lesbian. Forty-three percent know someone who is bisexual, while 49 percent said they do not.

Sixty-eight percent of respondents who know a trans person reported being sympathetic to trans people, compared to 35 percent of those who don’t. This is especially apparent among independent voters — 75 percent of independents who know a trans person said they are sympathetic to trans people, compared to only 32 percent of independents who don’t.

Fifty-seven percent of respondents agreed with the statement “we need new laws to protect LGBTQ+ Americans from discrimination and violence.” Ninety-one of LGBTQ+ respondents agreed with that, versus 53 percent of straight, cisgender ones. Eighty-two percent of Democrats agreed, compared to 32 percent of Republicans. Seventy-two percent of respondents who know a trans person agreed, versus 49 percent of those who don’t.

Forty-eight percent of agreed that “the political climate has become increasingly hostile to LGBTQ+ Americans.” Seventy-seven percent of LGBTQ+ respondents agreed, versus 44 percent of straight, cisgender respondents; 72 percent of Democrats agreed, versus 24 percent of Republicans; and 63 percent of those who know a trans person agreed, compared to 41 percent of those who don’t.

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Respondents overall were split on the statement “the federal government should do more to expand LGBTQ+ rights, with 45 percent agreeing, 45 percent disagreeing, and 10 percent saying they don’t know. Among subgroups, the divide was wide. Eighty-four percent of LGBTQ+ respondents agreed, versus 41 percent of straight, cisgender ones; 73 percent of Democrats agreed, compared to 18 percent of Republicans; and 60 percent of those who know a trans person agreed, versus 39 percent of those who don’t.

The full results are available here.