GLAAD RELEASES 2022 LGBTQ VOTER PULSE POLL: ENTHUSIASM AND PRIORITIES OF LGBTQ AMERICANS HEADING INTO THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS

GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, is releasing the findings of the first of an ongoing series of polls to gauge and track motivation, enthusiasm, and issues ahead of the 2022 midterm elections taking place in November. 

The poll measures how motivated LGBTQ likely voters are to vote in the 2022 midterm elections, as compared with motivation to vote in the 2020 Presidential election. Participants were also asked about the pending Supreme Court nomination and its impact on their vote, preferred candidates on a generic ballot for the U.S. Congress, about the COVID-19 pandemic, and which issues were their highest priorities. 

LGBTQ voters provided the deciding edge for the pro-equality presidential ticket in 2020 with a surge of new registrations. The Williams Institute reported in early 2020 that nine million LGBTQ adults were registered to vote, about 79% of LGBTQ adults. GLAAD’s 2022 poll shows 84% of LGBTQ people are registered to vote.

The poll of 1,000 LGBTQ respondents was conducted January 23–29, 2022 by Pathfinder Opinion Research. More details here. Read the memo on the poll’s findings here.

Elections this year are underscored by an increasingly hostile climate toward LGBTQ people in state legislatures across the country. Nearly 180 bills have been proposed in 2022, most (97) targeting transgender people and youth, with a new focus on anti-LGBTQ school policy bills (69) that ban classroom conversation and books about LGBTQ people under the guise of “parents’ rights,” like Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem signed a bill on February 3, 2022, banning transgender girls and women from playing sports on teams that align with their gender identity, one of at least 43 proposed school sports bans. At least 27 bills target trans youth healthcare, against recommendations from every major medical association about its safety and lifesaving effectiveness.

Statement from GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis:

“GLAAD’s snapshot poll shows LGBTQ people are motivated to vote and ready to make a significant impact on the midterm results. They also indicated the importance of nominating a pro-equality Supreme Court justice to maintain hard-fought rights. By revealing their top issues of concern, including COVID-19, jobs, healthcare, the environment and racial justice, LGBTQ voters are again showing how our issues are deeply connected to the greater struggles for equality and equity across American society. We are a part of every family, community and neighborhood. LGBTQ people and our allies must unite as a powerful voting bloc for positive change and to act as a bulwark against those who oppose our rights. LGBTQ voters were critical to the victories of pro-equality candidates up and down the ballot in 2020. We must continue to ensure LGBTQ voices and voters are heard in 2022.”

KEY FINDINGS OF THE POLL INCLUDE: 

Likelihood of voting in 2022 midterm elections:

64% Definitely will vote

19% Probably will vote

13% May or may not vote

2% Probably will not vote

2% Definitely will not vote

Motivated to vote in November 2022 election:

50% Extremely motivated

43% Motivated

Motivated to vote in midterms, compared with 2020 Presidential election: 

48% More motivated to vote in this upcoming election

15% Less motivated to vote in this upcoming election 

36% Neither more nor less motivated

Generic U.S. Congress choice if the vote were held today:

77% The Democratic candidate

15% The Republican candidate

4% Someone else

4% Not sure

Most important issues that candidates for office must address in 2022 (selected up to 2):

32% COVID-19 response

28% Jobs and the economy

25% Healthcare

23% Environment / climate change

19% Inflation

18% Racial justice

15% Voting rights

11% LGBTQ equality

8% Immigration 

7% Student debt

5% Other

4% Filibuster reform

Attitude toward President Biden’s Build Back Better plan:

73% Favor

27% Oppose

Impact of President Biden nominating a progressive, pro-LGBTQ justice for the Supreme Court vacancy:

50% More motivated to vote in November 2022 election

44% Neither more nor less motivated

6% Less motivated to vote in November 2022 election

Self-reported vaccination status of LGBTQ adults: 

74% Fully vaccinated

3% Received one dose, but require one more dose

23% Have not received any doses of the vaccine

Personal outcomes due to COVID-19 pandemic:

46% Experienced increased mental health issues

27% Increased personal debt to make ends meet

23% Tested positive for COVID-19

23% Close friend or family member died from COVID-19

22% Involuntarily lost job or had work reduced

17% Changed living arrangements for financial reasons

12% Voluntarily quit or resigned from job

METHODOLOGY: GLAAD’s Voter Pulse Poll
These findings represent the results of a survey conducted by Pathfinder Opinion Research from January 23–29, 2022, among n=1,000 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=837) and likely voters (n=698). For this survey, the overall credibility interval (a theoretical margin of error for non-probability samples) is ±3.1%.