Support for LGBT Issues Drops

Although LGBT individuals and their supporters are celebrating Pride Month, public support for several of their issues is slipping, a new Gallup poll finds.

Public acceptance of gender transition has experienced a steep decline over the last five years. Today, just 38 percent of Americans believe changing one’s gender is morally acceptable, down eight points since 2021, while a 57 percent majority view it as morally wrong. The cultural shift is driven largely by Republicans and, to a lesser extent, independents, while Democrats’ views on LGBTQ issues have remained steady. Independents also saw a six-point drop to 67 percent, while Democrats have held steady at 87 percent since 2022.

Although two-thirds of Americans still support legal same-sex marriage, that figure has dropped six percentage points from its peak in 2022 and 2023, Fox News reported. Meanwhile, moral acceptance of gay and lesbian relationships has dipped to 62 percent, which Gallup says is its lowest point since 2016.

A similar pattern emerged on views about the morality of same-sex relationships. Among Republicans, acceptance fell 21 points to 35 percent, falling to levels not seen since 2005 to 2014. Independents had an eight-point decline, dropping to 64 percent, while there was no meaningful change among Democrats, at 81 percent.

Another stark contrast is seen on the issue of gender transition. Just 5 percent of Republicans view changing one’s gender as morally acceptable, compared to 42 percent of independents and 60 percent of Democrats. Gallup noted that Republicans’ support for this issue has steadily declined since 2021, but independents and Democrats’ attitudes had held steady until a sudden drop in support this year.

Another new poll reveals that conservative opposition to so-called diversity initiatives has driven Republican acceptance of LGBT issues down significantly. The survey results were gathered from Gallup’s annual Values and Beliefs survey conducted in early May. Although Americans have become more supportive of gay marriage over the past 20 years, support has dropped marginally every year since 2024.

Similarly, moral approval of gay and lesbian relations rose from 40 percent in 2001 to 71 percent in 2022 before a sharp drop to 64 percent in 2023, where it has since plateaued. Gallup framed the declining support for LGBTQ issues in recent years as a result of conservative pushback against controversial diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives intended to foster acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals and other historically marginalized groups. Research has found the programs had the opposite effect, often fostering confusion and pushback from employees.

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–Alan Goforth