WASHINGTON 鈥 About half of U.S. adults approve of how President Donald Trump is handling transgender issues, according to a new poll 鈥 a relative high point for a president who has the approval overall of about 4 in 10 Americans.
Still, support for his individual policies on transgender people is not uniformly strong, with a clearer consensus against policies that affect youth.
The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey found there's more support than opposition on allowing transgender troops in the military, while most don't want to allow transgender students to use the public school bathrooms that align with their gender identity and oppose using government programs to pay for gender-affirming health care for transgender youth.
The poll of 1,175 adults was conducted May 1-5 using a sample drawn from NORC's probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 4 percentage points.
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Schuyler Fricchione, 40, a Virginia stay-at-home mother, is one of those who opposes the government paying for gender-affirming care, especially for young people. She said she doesn't want people to make major changes that they might later regret.
Because of her Catholic faith, she said she doesn't want to exclude transgender people from public life: "It's very important to me that everyone understands their dignity and importance as a person."
Women and girls look on Feb. 5 as President Donald Trump speaks聽聽in the East Room of the White House聽in Washington before signing an executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing in women's or girls' sporting events.
Most adults agree with Trump that sex is determined at birth
About two-thirds of U.S. adults agree with Trump that whether a person is a man or woman is determined by their biological characteristics at birth.
The poll found Republicans overwhelmingly believe gender identity is defined by sex at birth, but Democrats are divided, with about half saying gender identity can differ from biological characteristics at birth.
The view that gender identity can't be separated from sex at birth view contradicts what the American Medical Association and other mainstream medical groups say: that extensive scientific research suggests sex and gender are better understood as a spectrum than as an either-or definition.
A push against the recognition and rights of transgender people, who make up about 1% of the nation's population, was a major part of Trump's return to the White House.
He signed executive orders calling for the government to classify people by unchangeable sex rather than gender, oust transgender service members and kick transgender women and girls out of sports competitions for females. Those actions and others are challenged in court, and judges put many of his efforts on hold.
People hold a banner reading, "We're Here, We're Queer Get Used To It!" on聽May 8 in the fourth floor rotunda of the Maine State House in Augusta, Maine.
The public is divided on some issues
Despite being a hot-button issue overall, a big portion of the population is neutral or undecided on several key policies.
About 4 in 10 people supported requiring public school teachers to report to parents if their children identify as transgender or nonbinary at school. About 3 in 10 opposed it and a similar number was neutral.
About the same portion of people 鈥 just under 4 in 10 鈥 favored allowing transgender troops in the military as were neutral about it. About one-quarter opposed it.
Tim Phares, 59, a registered Democrat in Kansas who says he most often votes for Republicans, is among those in the middle on that issue.
"Either you can do the job or you can't do the job," he said, though he added, "I'm not a military person, so I'm not qualified to judge how it affects military readiness."
This month, a divided U.S. Supreme Court allowed Trump's administration to enforce a ban on transgender people in the military while legal challenges proceed.
Supporters of transgender rights rally Dec. 4 near the Supreme Court in Washington.
Most object to government coverage of gender-affirming care for youth
About half oppose allowing government insurance programs such as Medicare and Medicaid to cover gender-affirming medical care, such as hormone therapy and surgery, for transgender people 19 or older. About two-thirds oppose it for those under 19.
On each of those questions, a roughly equal portion of the populations support the coverage or is neutral about it.
A Trump executive order prevents federal insurance plans from paying for gender-affirming care for those under 19. A court ruled that funding can't be dropped from institutions that provide the care, at least for now.
Trump's administration this month released a report calling for therapy alone and not broader gender-affirming health care for transgender youth. Twenty-seven states banned the care for minors, and the Supreme Court is expected to rule in coming months over whether the bans can hold.
The chairman of USA Fencing and the athlete who took a knee in a bout against a transgender competitor testified before Congress.
Forming a stance is easy for some
While Democrats are divided on many policies related to transgender issues, they're more supportive than the population overall. There is no anguish over the issue or other transgender policy questions for Isabel Skinner, a 32-year-old politics professor in Illinois.
She has liberal views on transgender people, shaped partly by her being a member of the LGBTQ+ community as a bisexual and pansexual person, and also by knowing transgender people.
She was in the minority who supported allowing transgender students to use the public school bathrooms that match their gender identity 鈥 something that at least 14 states banned in the last five years.
"I don't understand where the fear comes from," Skinner said, "because there really doesn't seem to be any basis of reality for the fear of transgender people."
Growing trans population sparks need for senior housing geared to LGBTQ+ community
Morgan Mayfaire, a transgender man, second from left, hosts a community gathering for a food distribution event at TransSOCIAL, Thursday, July 27, 2023, in Miami. 鈥淚 have friends that have retired and they鈥檝e decided to move to retirement communities. And then, little by little, they鈥檝e found that they鈥檙e not welcome there,鈥 says Mayfaire.聽聽
Rajee Narinesingh, a transgender woman, holds a photograph of herself as a child, Thursday, June 29, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. In spite of several roadblocks, the 56-year-old Florida actress and activist has seen growing acceptance since she first came out decades ago.聽聽
Rajee Narinesingh speaks about her life during an interview at her home, Thursday, June 29, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Narinesingh, 56, faced struggles throughout her life as a transgender woman, from trying to get government documents like passports to the lasting effects of black market silicone injections that scarred her face.聽聽
Tiffany Arieagus, a transgender woman, performs at The Pub, Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Wilton Manors, Fla. 鈥淚 just am going on my 71 years on this earth and walking in the civil rights march with my mother at age six and then marching for gay rights," Arieagus says. "I鈥檝e been blessed enough to see so many changes being made in the world. And then now I鈥檓 having to see these wonderful progressions going backwards.鈥澛
Andrea Montanez sits in her office in the Hope Community Center, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Apopka, Fla. Florida's law has already created obstacles for Montanez, an LGBTQ+ immigration organizer. Montanez, 57, said her prescription for hormone therapy was initially denied after the restrictions were signed.聽聽
Andrea Montanez sits in her office in the Hope Community Center, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Apopka, Fla. Florida's law has already created obstacles for Montanez, an LGBTQ+ immigration organizer. Montanez, 57, said her prescription for hormone therapy was initially denied after the restrictions were signed. 鈥淚 hope I have a happy retirement, but health care is a big problem," Montanez says.聽
Tiffany Arieagus, a transgender woman, right, applies make-up before participating in the Stonewall Pride Parade and Street Festival, Saturday, June 17, 2023, in Wilton Manors, Fla. Arieagus, 71, is an acclaimed drag performer in south Florida also works in social services for SunServe, an LGBTQ+ nonprofit. At left is Tatiana Williams, the executive director of Transinclusive.聽聽
Rajee Narinesingh, a transgender woman, wipes away a tear as she speaks about her life during an interview at her home, Thursday, June 29, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 鈥淓very now and then I have like this thought, like, oh my God, if I end up in a nursing home, how are they going to treat me?鈥 Narinesingh says.聽聽
Rajee Narinesingh, a transgender woman, looks out from a doorway of her home, Thursday, June 29, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 鈥淚f you see older transgender people, it shows the younger community that it鈥檚 possible I can have a life. I can live to an older age,鈥 she says. 鈥淪o I think that鈥檚 a very important thing.鈥澛
Tiffany Arieagus, a transgender woman, stands next to a photograph of herself after receiving an award at the opening reception of "Take PRIDE! A Retrospective of LGBTQ+ Life in South Florida" exhibit, Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Arieagus, 71, an acclaimed drag performer in south Florida, also works in social services for SunServe, an LGBTQ+ nonprofit.聽聽
A collage features images of Tiffany Arieagus, a transgender woman. 鈥淚 just am going on my 71 years on this earth and walking in the civil rights march with my mother at age six and then marching for gay rights," Arieagus says. "I鈥檝e been blessed enough to see so many changes being made in the world. And then now I鈥檓 having to see these wonderful progressions going backwards.鈥澛犅
Morgan Mayfaire, a transgender man, right, walks with his wife, Ashley, Sunday, July 23, 2023, at Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami. Mayfaire, 64, is the executive director of TransSOCIAL, a Florida support and advocacy group.聽聽
Tatiana Williams, 51, executive director of the Transinculsive Group, sits for a portrait in her office, Thursday, June 1, 2023, in Wilton Manors, Fla. Williams, 51, has painful memories of a time when she and other members of the transgender community had to rely on dangerous and illegal sources for gender-affirming medical care. 鈥淲hat we don't want is the community resorting to going back to that,鈥 Williams says.聽聽
Tatiana Williams, 51, a transgender woman, left, and Tiffany Arieagus, 71, a transgender woman, right, stand together for a photo at the Stonewall Pride Parade and Street Festival, Saturday, June 17, 2023, in Wilton Manors, Fla.聽聽
A placard supporting transgender rights is shown at the Stonewall Pride Parade and Street Festival, Saturday, June 17, 2023, in Wilton Manors, Fla.聽聽
Adrianna Tender, program coordinator for the Transinclusive Group, looks out from a float sponsored by several transgender groups during the Stonewall Pride Parade and Street Festival, Saturday, June 17, 2023, in Wilton Manors, Fla. A battle over transgender people鈥檚 rights in the United States has focused attention mostly on youth. But for many transgender seniors, it鈥檚 brought new fears to their plans for retirement and old age.聽聽
Reading material and a placard sit on a table at the office of TransSOCIAL, Thursday, July 27, 2023, in Miami. The organization works to promote unity and increase transgender understanding in the community. About 171,000 of the more than 1.3 million transgender adults in the United States are aged 65 and older, according to numbers compiled by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law.聽聽
A speaker wears shoes advocating for love, peace and freedom during the opening reception of "Take PRIDE! A Retrospective of LGBTQ+ Life in South Florida" exhibit, Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.聽
An American flag flies with a pride flag outside of a home in Wilton Manors, Fla., Thursday, June 29, 2023.聽
Tiffany Arieagus, a transgender woman, second from left, rides on a float during the Stonewall Pride Parade and Street Festival, Saturday, June 17, 2023, in Wilton Manors, Fla. Arieagus, 71, is an acclaimed drag performer in south Florida also works in social services for SunServe, an LGBTQ+ nonprofit.聽聽
A spectator waves pride flags during the Stonewall Pride Parade and Street Festival, Saturday, June 17, 2023, in Wilton Manors, Fla.聽聽
Lee Forte, a resident at Stonewall Gardens pauses while playing Bingo in the LGBTQ+ assisted living facility, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, in Palm Springs, Calif. A handful of states, including California, have in recent years enacted laws to ensure that LGBTQ+ seniors have equal access to programs for aging populations and requiring training on how to serve that community.聽聽
Lauren Kabakoff Vincent, right, interim executive director of Stonewall Gardens, talks with resident Billy Kurch at the LGBTQ+ assisted living facility, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, in Palm Springs, Calif. The center's staff are required to go through sensitivity training to help make the center a more welcoming environment for residents, Vincent says. The training is key for making a more accepting environment for transgender residents and making them feel more at home.聽聽
John Schmidt, center, joins fellow residents in a game of Bingo at Stonewall Gardens, a LGBTQ+ assisted living facility, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, in Palm Springs, Calif. The number of services such as nursing homes and assisted living centers that are geared toward serving the LGBTQ+ community is increasing, though such facilities remain uncommon.聽聽
Stonewall Gardens employee Brian Trout, second from left, leads a game of Bingo with residents of the LGBTQ+ assisted living facility, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, in Palm Springs, Calif.聽聽
Robert Lopez, right, a driver for Stonewall Gardens, opens a door for resident Alex Smariga at the LGBTQ+ assisted living facility, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, in Palm Springs, Calif. About 171,000 of the more than 1.3 million transgender adults in the United States are aged 65 and older, according to numbers compiled by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law.聽聽
Resident Alex Smariga walks past a pride flag while returning from a physical therapy session at Stonewall Gardens, a LGBTQ+ assisted living facility, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, in Palm Springs, Calif. The number of services such as nursing homes and assisted living centers that are geared toward serving the LGBTQ+ community is increasing, though such facilities remain uncommon.聽
Resident Billy Church, in wheelchair, is helped into a van headed for a group lunch at Stonewall Gardens, a LGBTQ+ assisted living facility, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, in Palm Springs, Calif. About 171,000 of the more than 1.3 million transgender adults in the United States are aged 65 and older, according to numbers compiled by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law.聽
