Some Republicans Back Transgender Care for Kids in New Poll
Republicans support children having access to transgender care, a new poll conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago for the Los Angeles Times revealed.The poll, which looked at how attitudes toward gay and lesbian people have changed over the past four decades based on the responses of more than 1,600 Americans, found that 29 percent of Republicans said they were in favor of state laws that protect access to gender-affirming care for minors.Democrats were much more likely to advocate for protected access to this care, at 70 percent, but the 29 percent is higher than many may have guessed based on the public Republican view on the issue.Republicans were more unified when it came to their views on transgender women competing on women's sports teams.
On that issue, a whopping 88 percent of Republicans said they were against transgender women competing, but there was much more division on whether transgender children should be able to get care helping them transition.Robert Shapiro, a political science professor at Columbia University, said Republicans might be making a distinction between what they view as fair when it concerns affecting others versus their own individual health care choices, which more might be inclined to protect."It is understandable that the transgender issue is more clear-cut in that it pertains to fairness in competition where transgender women may have at least a possible lingering physiological advantage that can be perceived as unfair that infringes on the prospects of their competitors," Shapiro told Newsweek.He added: "Whereas transgender care only affects the prospects of the individual receiving the care, and Republicans and conservatives may be acknowledging that there are personal health and well-being issues that are between the individuals and medical professionals and the rights of individuals should be protected from state interference."Shapiro said this differs from Republicans' view of abortion, as many are worried about.