National Snapshot Poll Results on Transgender Athletes

Person marking with pen on male and female gender checklist

TEMPE, Ariz. - Global Sport Institute at Arizona State University recently conducted a national snapshot poll in partnership with OH Predictive Insights to measure public understanding about transgender people and the issues facing the transgender community in sport. The poll was completed between May 19-27, 2021. 

The full results of the poll can be found on the Global Sport Institute website, with an accompanying Global Sport Matters digital issue, ‘Beyond the Binary in Sport,’ which will be released on June 11. Additionally, a GSM Live is slated for Friday, June 18, as well as podcasts on June 17 and 24. The month’s digital content will discuss the topics of sex, gender, and sexuality in sport at greater lengths.  

“The nuanced topics of sex, gender, and sexuality in sport have become even more complex in recent years,” says Dr. Karen Gallagher, Senior Researcher at the Global Sport Institute. “One of those critical issues is how and where transgender athletes fit into the picture. For our snapshot poll, we set out to first gauge the public’s understanding of the transgender community, and followed with where they stand as far as concern level and potential resolutions. Our biggest takeaway from the results? People are still in the process of forming their opinions, and therefore, more education and information is needed. We hope that the stories and insights in our new digital issue will provide a deeper understanding in this space.”

Key Takeaways:

Understanding Transgender Athletes

While the largest percentage of respondents felt that being transgender is real, many respondents were uncertain.

  • 50% of respondents “Disagree” or “Strongly Disagree” with the statement “There is no such thing as being transgender” while 27% have “No Opinion.”

  • Respondents most likely to “Agree” or “Strongly Agree” with this statement are 18 - 54 year-old males in the Great Lakes region (49%) and 55+ males in the Plains region (31%).

As a whole, respondents are not confident in their knowledge of transgender issues, but results vary with age.

  • 53% of respondents have no opinion, disagree, or strongly disagree with the statement “I have a good understanding of transgender issues.”

  • The majority of 18 - 54 year-old women (54%) and men (58%) agree or strongly agree with the statement “I have a good understanding of transgender issues”

    • Regional averages range from 55% - 61% for 18 - 54 year-old men and 40% - 57% for 18 - 54 year-old women

  • Within the 55+ age bracket, women and men as a group are nearly evenly split in thirds between agreeing (33%), disagreeing (34%), or having no opinion (33%) about the statement “I have a good understanding of transgender issues”.

    • Within the 55+ group, the segments most likely to agree with the statement “I have a good understanding of transgender issues” are men (39%) and women (41%) from the Pacific region

    • Within the 55+ group, the segment least likely to disagree with the statement “I have a good understanding of transgender issues” is males from the Southern region (26%).

When asked about sex, gender and transgender-related terminology, not all respondents demonstrated a clear understanding.

  • When asked about the correct definitions for “sex” and “gender”, 48% answered correctly

    • The following demographics had among the highest shares of incorrect belief that sex and gender were the same: respondents with a high school education or less (48%), those living in rural areas (44%), and those in the Southern (42%) and Plains (45%) regions. 

  • When asked the term that defines “People who were assigned female at birth but identify and live as a boy/man”, 49% answered “transgender boy/man” correctly

    • The segments least likely to identify the correct terminology were 18 - 54 year-old males from the Plains (28%) and Southern (29%) regions.

    • The segment most likely to identify the correct terminology was 55+ women from the Western region (74%).

  • When asked the term that defines “People who were assigned male at birth but identify and live as a girl/woman”, 49% answered “transgender girl/woman” correctly.

    • The segments least likely to identify the correct terminology were 18 - 54 year-old males from the Pacific (32%) and Southern (32%) regions.

    • The segment most likely to identify the correct terminology was 55+ women from the Western region (77%).

Opinions Regarding Competition

Respondents are split on whether transgender athletes should be allowed to compete as their preferred gender, but opinions vary based on whether the athlete is a transgender boy or girl. 

When provided with a real-life scenario depicting the situation previously described, responses shifted somewhat.

  • When provided with the general description of an athlete competing as a transgender man (person who was assigned female at birth but identifies as a man), 31% of respondents strongly/somewhat supported it, 36% were strongly/somewhat against it, and 34% were neutral.

    • When provided with a specific scenario of a transgender boy (person who was assigned female at birth but identifies as a boy) who was required to compete in the girls’ category in compliance with state regulations, 27% of respondents strongly/somewhat supported it, 40% were strongly/somewhat against it, and 33% were neutral.

  • When provided with the general description of an athlete competing as a transgender woman (person who was assigned male at birth but identifies as a woman), 26% of respondents strongly/somewhat supported it, 44% were strongly/somewhat against it, and 30% were neutral.

    • When provided with a specific scenario of transgender girls (people who were assigned male at birth but identify as girls) who were allowed to compete in the girls category in compliance with state regulations, 25% of respondents strongly/somewhat supported it, 44% were strongly/somewhat against it, and 30% were neutral.

Respondents were divided on interactions among transgender and non-transgender athletes.

  • More respondents were supportive of transgender boys (athletes who were assigned female at birth but identify as male) competing against athletes assigned male at birth (31% support/36% oppose) than the opposing scenario.

  • 45% of respondents are concerned about the presence of transgender athletes in locker rooms. 

  • The majority of respondents were united in the belief that transgender people should be allowed to compete in sports but divided on where they should compete. 

    • 32% said transgender athletes should be required to compete with their sex assigned at birth.

    • 30% said they should be able to compete with their gender identity.

    • 28% said new categories should be created specifically for transgender athletes.

While three-quarters of respondents don’t have personal experience with transgender athletes, younger, more affluent, and urban respondents were more likely to report having personal knowledge of someone who has competed or chosen not to compete against a transgender athlete.  

  • 35% of parents of young children believe that transgender athletes competing in youth sports is an extremely/very widespread issues, compared 23% and 24% of parents of older children and those without children, respectively. 

    • 48% of 35 - 44 year-olds in the Plains region feel this is an extremely/very widespread issue, regardless of parental status

  • A slight majority of parents, regardless of their chlidren’s ages, believe that the media is influencing children to think they are transgender more so than those without children (53% of parents with children under 18 living at home, and 54% of parents whose children are not living at home)

  • Younger respondents (53% of 18-34 years-olds) were most likely to believe that refusing to allow transgender athletes to compete in the category of their gender identity would harm the athletes mentally or emotionally, compared to the population as a whole (41%). 

  • More respondents were worried about the impact that allowing transgender girls to compete in girls’ sports would have than transgender boys’ impact on boys’ sports.  

    • By a 28-point margin, respondents thought that allowing transgender girls to compete would have a negative impact on girls’ sports

“We found little consistency in respondents’ knowledge and opinions on transgender issues in the world of sports, indicating that most are not certain in their beliefs,” said Mike Noble, OH Predictive Insights’ Chief of Research. “While there is a lack in agreement on how sports entities should deal with transgender athletes, there was one element that most respondents agreed on: Transgender people should not be banned from sports.”

Click here to register for the GSM Live on June 18.

About Global Sport Institute

The Global Sport Institute is where diverse disciplines converge to thoughtfully examine critical issues impacting sport. As a cross-disciplinary enterprise, the institute’s efforts are integrated throughout the entire university — from engineering to sociology, to the athletic department and beyond — rather than within a single concentration. With an emphasis on expanding research, sharing knowledge, supporting innovation and advancing education, the institute’s mission is to use sport to create positive change throughout the world.

About Global Sport Matters

Global Sport Matters is the Institute’s purpose driven publication that provides a platform for in-depth insights on a diverse range of sports topics. The site aims to share knowledge through a variety of content that resonates with a broad audience, and highlights sport’s ties with research, culture, history, science, technology, business, politics, health, the humanities, and more.

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Methodology: This national survey was conducted by OH Predictive Insights between May 19th - May 27th, 2021 from a nationwide general population (18+ year old) sample. The sample size was 1,800 completed surveys, with a MoE of ± 2.31%. All respondents were given the option to take the survey in English or Spanish. Of the 1,800 respondents in total, 16 respondents opted to take the survey in Spanish, while the remaining respondents chose to take the survey in English. The sample demographics accurately reflected the target population’s age, gender, region and ethnicity according to population statistics derived from recent US Census data for US adults. This survey was conducted via opt-in online panel. Numbers may not total 100%, due to rounding

Questions about methodology: Mike Noble, OH Predictive Insights, m.noble@ohpredictive.com, (480) 313-1837 

About OH Predictive Insights

As a nonpartisan market research, predictive analytics, and public opinion polling firm,Phoenix-based OH Predictive Insightsprovides accurate polling, focus groups, data analytics, and advanced targeted marketing to political and non-political clients alike. With leading professionals in the advertising, communication, polling, and political arenas, OH Predictive Insights will service political and non-political clients looking to improve their footing on key stakeholders and consumers. For more information, please call 602-362-5694 orsubmit a request online. 

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