A poll released Thursday by GLAAD found that 94 percent of LGBTQ Americans are motivated to vote, with those residing in seven swing states preferring President Joe Biden over former President Donald Trump by a margin of 57 points.
The data, pulled from a nationwide survey of LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ participants, also showed that running on anti-transgender issues is “a losing strategy,” with 53 percent of respondents who are likely to vote (and registered to do so) saying they would oppose “a political candidate [who] speaks frequently about restricting access to health care and participation in sports for transgender youth.” The poll, which included “LGBTQ, registered, Trump voters and swing voters,” also found that respondents agreed with the statement that politicians “should stop focusing on restricting women’s rights and banning medical care for transgender youth and instead focus on addressing inflation, job creation, and healthcare costs.” GLAAD further notes that LGBTQ Americans constitute an important voting bloc, comprising seven to eight percent of the overall electorate in 2020 according to figures reported by the Washington Post.
Their turnout in that election “played a decisive role in President Joe Biden’s win in the close contest swing states,” the organization wrote — states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin where the poll found 68 percent of motivated LGBTQ voters favor Biden while only 15 percent favor Trump.
Among motivated LGBTQ voters in states where U.S. Senate races are most competitive — Arizona, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — 79 percent reported preferring a Democratic congressional candidate while just 12 percent preferred a Republican.