Majority of Americans think gender transition ‘morally wrong’, poll suggests

More Americans think it’s morally wrong to change gender than to test medicines on animals, a new poll suggests.

A higher percentage of Americans believe the death penalty, gambling, and buying/wearing animal fur are more morally acceptable than transitioning gender.

In a survey from analytics firm Gallup, US residents were asked to give their opinion on the ‘moral acceptability’ of 20 different behaviours, regardless of legality.

It found that just 40 per cent of respondents believe transitioning is ‘morally acceptable’, while 54 per cent believe it is ‘morally wrong ‘and five per cent have no opinion or believe it isn’t a morality issue.

Comparatively, 47 per cent agreed medical testing on animals is ‘morally acceptable’, while 56 per cent gave the same answer in regards to the death penalty.

64 per cent, meanwhile, said that gay or lesbian relationships are morally permissible, with 33 per cent disagreeing.

Gallup, which has been monitoring US views on morality since the early 2000s with its Values and Beliefs poll, said the nation’s views on moral issues have remained largely consistent with last year, apart from abortion and gender transition, which have seen “modest changes.”

Last year, a Gallup poll found that 44 per cent of Americans believe it is ‘morally acceptable’ to transition.

Using birth control remains the most morally acceptable behaviour among Americans, with 90 per cent saying it is permissible to use contraceptives. On the opposite end of the spectrum, 89 per cent of Americans say it is morally wrong for a married person to have an affair.

Splitting the viewpoints down party lines tells a widely different story. 71 per cent of Democrat voters say that gender transition is morally acceptable, while just 9 per cent of Republicans agree – a 62 per cent difference.

Interestingly, data also collected by Gallup suggests that, while the majority of Americans believe transitionin gender is morally wrong, the majority oppose gender-affirming care bans for under-18s.

A poll of 1,024 US adults taken in May 2024 found that 62 per cent oppose laws banning gender-affirming care for trans youth.

At least 27 states have passed laws banning gender-affirming care for under-18s in the US. The Human Rights Campaign estimates that at least 40.1 per cent of trans youth are living in states than ban trans healthcare.

A 2024 poll published by the LA Times also found that, out of 1,624 American adults, 67 per cent said they approve of trans and non-binary people living as their authentic selves.