GLAAD POLL OF LGBTQ AMERICANS ON PRESIDENT BIDEN’S FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE

GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, is releasing the findings of its poll of LGBTQ Americans as the Biden administration marks 100 days in office. 

The poll measures LGBTQ sentiment on issues including COVID-19 response, concerns about equality legislation passing in the closely-divided Senate, anti-transgender bills proliferating in state legisative bodies across the country, and President Biden’s performance in his first 100 days as president.

The poll of 800 LGBTQ respondents was conducted April 15-20, 2021 by Pathfinder Opinion Research. More details here. Read the memo on the poll’s findings here.

GLAAD has tracked nearly forty pro-LGBTQ actions and rhetoric from the Biden administration in its Biden Accountability Tracker. These items include an end on the ban on transgender people serving our military, support for the Equality Act, and appointments and nominations of LGBTQ people and allies to leadership positions within the administration. This contrasts with the 200 anti-LGBTQ attacks in policy and rhetoric GLAAD cataloged in its Trump Accountability Project throughout the previous administration.

In his first address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, President Biden urged the passage of the Equality Act and delivered a message of support: “For all transgender Americans watching at home, especially young people, you’re so brave. I want you to know your president has your back.”

GLAAD’s poll shows 78% of LGBTQ adults are concerned about the U.S. Senate’s ability to pass pro-equality legislation like voting rights, immigration reform, gun safety and LGBTQ equality measures. 77% say elected officials trying to pass anti-transgender legislation in dozens of states across the country makes them feel unsafe in their community.

As of April 29, there are 105 proposed bills around the country targeting transgender people and youth. 57 bills ban trans youth participation in sports in 34 states; 35 bills target trans youth seeking healthcare in 22 states, despite every major medical association’s stated support for such care and against these bills. 

So far, seven states (Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, South Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia) have passed sports bans into law, while lawmakers’ acknowledge that trans inclusion has not been an issue in their states. Arkansas also became the first state to ban gender-affirming healthcare, overriding the governor’s veto.

Statement from GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis: “President Biden has earned the overwhelming support of LGBTQ people, because he and his administration have hit the ground running to reverse the immeasurable damage of the last four years and put the fight for full equality and acceptance back on the agenda at the White House.  It’s clear, however, that those who oppose our rights are not letting up, and anti-LGBTQ lawmakers and groups like the Family Research Council and the Alliance Defending Freedom have moved the battleground out to the states. Those groups are working day and night to undermine LGBTQ rights and put a target on the backs of the most vulnerable in our community — especially transgender youth. Our poll shows LGBTQ people want leadership from elected officials and companies to speak out and take action for equality and against these discriminatory bills. LGBTQ Americans want results from all those they helped put in office.”

KEY FINDINGS OF THE POLL INCLUDE: 

Biden job performance and LGBTQ concerns, rated excellent or good:
78% job approval
73% for advancing LGBTQ equality
67% for advancing racial equality

Biden COVID-19 response:
80% rate President Biden’s response excellent/good
43% plan to get the coronavirus vaccine
34% have already received at least one dose

Issues of Most Importance for LGBTQ people:

COVID-19 response 33%
Healthcare 23%
Racial justice 21%
LGBTQ equality 18%
Environment/
Climate change 18%

Concern that filibuster will be used to block pro-equality legislation:
78%

U.S. Senate filibuster:
End 47%
Keep 28%
Not sure 24%

Vote for U.S. Senator who supports the filibuster:
Less Likely 43%
More Likely 24%

Viewed as most influential to speak out against anti-transgender bills:
Elected officials 41%
Advocacy groups 40%
Religious organizations 29%
Companies and brands 26%

Feel unsafe when elected officials try to pass laws limiting LGBTQ rights
77%

METHODOLOGY: GLAAD’s 100 Days Poll
These findings represent the results of a survey conducted by Pathfinder Opinion Research from April 15-20, 2021 among n=800 LGBTQ adults in the United States. Interviews were conducted online utilizing a national research panel. Respondents were selected to represent the national LGBT population based on demographic estimates of this universe published by the Williams Institute and weighted by gender, age, race, education, and geographic region based on Williams Institute data. Within this sample of LGBTQ adults are subsets of registered voters (n=674) and registered voters who affirmed voting in the Presidential election (n=617). For this survey, the overall credibility interval (a theoretical margin of error for non-probability samples) is ±3.5%.