According to the results of a poll released Thursday, only 51 percent of U.S. adults actually think that new civil rights laws are needed to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
The Gallup poll conducted from May 3-7 asked participants, “Do you think new civil rights laws are needed to reduce discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people, or not?” It found that Americans are near evenly split on the necessity of new civil rights laws for LGBT people. Even within the Democratic party, 33 percent responded that no new laws are needed.
The survey also asked, “In terms of policies governing public restrooms, do you think these policies should require transgender individuals to use the restroom that corresponds with their birth gender (or should these policies) allow transgender individuals to use the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity?”
On this topic also, respondents were virtually tied. However, the plurality (48 percent) said that transgender individuals should be required to use a bathroom that corresponds to their birth gender. On the other hand, 45 percent said they should be allowed to use a bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity.
The obvious takeaway from these results is twofold. First, despite constant propaganda promoting new legislation for LGBT rights, only about half of Americans think that is necessary. Second, lawmakers should take note that more of their constituents think that transgender people should be required to use a bathroom that corresponds to their birth gender as opposed to one that they choose based on their gender identity.
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