What Americans Get Wrong About Transgender People
Newsweek shows.In a survey of 1,500 eligible voters in the U.S. by Redfield & Wilton Strategies on April 30, a combined 61 percent estimated that 1 percent or more of the population identified with a different gender to the one they were born with—despite recent studies finding the true number to be far lower.With transgender rights and inclusion rapidly becoming a hot topic and culture-war battleground, the results suggest many have been influenced by discussion in the media and in politics to think trans individuals present a larger ratio.Some 42 percent of those asked thought trans issues received too much media attention, while just 19 percent felt they did not receive enough.
46 percent disagreed with the statement: "Almost nobody is talking about trans issues."Many politicians and commentators have railed against what they see as transgender ideology, which they argue indoctrinates younger people into thinking they are in the wrong body and should seek life-altering treatments.There are also concerns about transgender individuals in women-only spaces and sporting categories.At the same time, transgender rights advocates argue that wider acceptance is needed, as trans individuals face threats to their safety and an increasing number of proposed laws limit trans rights and access to healthcare.Meanwhile, brands such as Bud Light and Target have faced calls for boycotts for marketing themselves towards transgenders.
In both cases, by appealing to the LGBTQ+ community, the companies have been accused of alienating their traditional customer bases.According to the poll, 22 percent of adult Americans think between 1-3 percent of the population is transgender, 18 percent thought between 3-5 percent is, and a further 21.
