In May of this year, the Obama administration issued a declaration — signed by Justice and Education department officials — directing schools to allow transgender access to their restrooms. The directive does not make new law, but it carries an implied threat: follow the policy or face federal lawsuits or loss of federal funding. Not everyone is happy with the Fed’s actions.
Voters in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania have similar views when it comes to transgender people’s use of public bathrooms. Forty-eight percent of voters in Florida say transgender people should have the right to use public bathrooms consistent with their gender identity. Forty-four percent say no. But when it comes to requiring public schools to make it a policy, the number changes to 54 – 37 percent against. So, the majority feeling is that transgender people should have the right to go the bathroom of their gender identity, but public schools should not be required to give them that right. So says a Quinnipiac University Swing State Poll released today.
Quinnipiac polled 975 Florida voters as part of its swing state survey. Pollsters also included voters in Ohio (971) and Pennsylvania (950). Voters in all three states oppose the federal government order to public schools to let transgender students use the bathroom of their gender identity. But they are split almost evenly on whether or not it should be okay for those students to use whatever bathroom they choose.
In Ohio, 48 percent of voters say transgender people should not be allowed to choose a bathroom, while 43 percent say they should. Fifty-five percent say they oppose requiring public schools to enforce that right. Thirty-six percent say schools should be required to enforce the bathroom rule.
In Pennsylvania, voters support the transgender right to choose a bathroom by a margin of 49 – 43 percent, but that support goes away on the subject of forcing schools to enforce that right. On that issue, voters say ‘no’ by a margin of 53 – 39 percent.
The Zika Virus
Voters in each state are also concerned about the Zika virus, and only a slim majority in each state believes the U.S. Olympic team should compete in Brazil this summer, because of the dangers of becoming infected.
Voters in all three states are clearly aware of the Zika virus (some 8 out of 10) , and many are concerned enough about it to worry that they or someone they know might catch it. They split on the question of whether the U.S. government is doing enough to protect Americans from the virus. Only slightly more than half think the U.S. Olympic team should go to the summer Olympics in Brazil, which is considered by many to be the focal point of the virus event.
Here is the breakdown, as reported by the poll:
Florida
The transgender bathroom issue opens gender, race, party and age gaps. Supporting the right to choose a bathroom are women 52 – 39 percent, white voters 51 – 42 percent, voters 18 to 34 years old 66 – 29 percent, Democrats 68 – 28 percent and independent voters 48 – 42 percent.
Opposed to bathroom choice are men 50 – 43 percent, non-white voters 50 – 43 percent, voters over 65 years old 48 – 41 percent and Republicans 63 – 27 percent.
The only listed group supporting a transgender bathroom mandate for public schools is Democrats, 57 – 36 percent. Voters 18 to 34 years old are divided 48 – 47 percent.
A total of 62 percent of Florida voters are “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” that they or someone they know will contract the Zika virus. The government is not doing enough to protect Americans from Zika, voters say 46 – 37 percent.
While 52 percent of Florida voters say the U.S. Olympic team should compete in Brazil, 29 percent say the athletes should be kept home because of the Zika virus.
“Because of its proximity to South America and the huge amount of tourism from there, Floridians are more concerned about the Zika virus than voters in the other states. They also are more critical of government efforts to stamp it out,” Brown said.
Ohio
Ohio is the only Swing State where voters oppose, 48 – 43 percent, allowing transgender people to choose a bathroom. Women are divided on the issue, with 47 percent in favor and 45 percent opposed, while women in Florida and Pennsylvania are more supportive.
Again, the only listed group supporting a transgender bathroom mandate for public schools is Democrats, 52 – 39 percent. Among voters 18 to 34 years old, 46 percent support a mandate on public schools, with 43 percent opposed.
A total of 49 percent of Ohio voters are “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” that they or someone they know will contract the Zika virus. The government is doing enough to protect Americans from Zika, voters say by a narrow 42 – 38 percent.
The U.S. Olympic team should compete in Brazil, 51 percent of Ohio voters say, while 30 percent say the athletes should be kept home because of the Zika virus.
“Men, white voters and those with college degrees are more likely among Ohioans to think the U.S. Olympic team should compete in Brazil despite the threat of the Zika virus,” Brown said.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania offers the strongest support for transgender people being allowed to choose a bathroom, because opposition from men is less than in Florida and Ohio. Keystone State men are divided with 44 percent in favor of transgender choice and 47 percent opposed.
Democrats are the only listed group supporting a transgender bathroom mandate for public schools 61 – 31 percent. Even voters 18 to 34 years old oppose the mandate.
A total of 52 percent of Pennsylvania voters are “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” that they or someone they know will contract the Zika virus. The government is doing enough to protect Americans from Zika, voters say 43 – 36 percent.
While 54 percent of Pennsylvania voters say the U.S. Olympic team should compete in Brazil, 27 percent say the athletes should be kept home because of the Zika virus.
The Swing State Poll focuses on Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania because since 1960 no candidate has won the presidential race without taking at least two of these three states. The poll, conducted from June 8-19, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research.
Visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling or www.facebook.com/quinnipiac poll. Call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.
Here are the questions that were asked, and the responses given:
36. Do you think people who are transgender should be allowed to use the public bathrooms consistent with the gender they identify with, or not?
FL OH PA Yes/Should 48% 43% 49% No/Should not 44 48 43 DK/NA 8 9 8
37. Do you think public schools should be required to allow transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that are consistent with the gender they identify with, or not?
FL OH PA Yes/Should 37% 36% 39% No/Should not 54 55 53 DK/NA 9 9 8
38. How much have you heard or read about the Zika virus, which is carried by some mosquitos and can cause birth defects in pregnant women: a lot, some, a little, or nothing at all?
FL OH PA A lot 55% 37% 41% Some 30 40 38 A little 12 18 16 Nothing at all 3 6 4 DK/NA - - -
39. How concerned are you that you or someone you know will be affected by the Zika virus; are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not so concerned, or not concerned at all?
FL OH PA Very concerned 22% 11% 14% Somewhat concerned 40 38 38 Not so concerned 22 35 29 Not concerned at all 15 15 18 DK/NA 1 - 1
40. Do you think the government is doing enough to protect Americans from the Zika virus, or not?
FL OH PA Yes 37% 42% 43% No 46 38 36 DK/NA 17 20 20
41. Should the U.S. Olympic team compete in Brazil this summer, or should the athletes be kept home because of the Zika virus?
FL OH PA
Compete 52% 51% 54%
Kept home 29 30 27
DK/NA 19 18 19
ADVOCATE POLL
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