Voters oppose transgender women, ie biological males, from competing against women or girls

                                                                           

Transgender symbol from Wikipedia

Regardless of how the question is asked or who is asking it,  most people don't want transgender women athletes --- biological males who identify as female -- competing in sports against women or girls.

Arguments about transgender athletes have simmered since at least the 1970s, but few minds have been changed. 

Let's look at a year's worth of poll results:

Last June, a Gallup survey found that 69 percent of respondents nationwide agreed that transgender athletes should only be allowed to play on sports teams that match their birth gender.

Though the poll didn't distinguish between transgender athletes, the vast majority of objections involve transgender women -- biological men who identify as female -- competing against biological women. After puberty, men are generally bigger, stronger and faster, even after years of female hormone treatments. Many say that gives transgender women an unfair advantage in physical match-ups.

The Gallup question was: Do you think transgender athletes should be able to play on sports teams that match their current gender identity or should only be allowed to play on sports teams that match their birth gender?

Party affiliation played a large part in their opinions: 93 percent of Republicans nationwide believe transgender athletes should be restricted to competing only against teams that match their birth gender; 67 percent of independent voters agree while only 48 percent of Democrats support limiting transgender athletes to opponents with the same birth gender.

Last month the Siena College Research Institute polled opinions on transgender athletes with a rather confusing question that asked New York voters if they supported restricting transgender athletes to compete only against opponents of the same sex assigned at birth. Overall,  66 percent of New York voters supported restrictions.

The Siena question: "I'd like you to tell me if you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose ... requiring high school athletes to only compete with others of the same sex that they were assigned at birth."

Again, opinions were largely based on party affiliation.

Siena College Research Institute Poll April 22,2024

The poll shows that 83 percent of Republican voters supported restrictions compared to 52 percent of Democrats; 77 percent of independent New York voters support restrictiosn. In the suburbs 66 percent of all voters wanted restrictions. 

That was last month, in a poll released April 22.

Today, Newsday and Siena reported a joint poll that found 53 percent of Long Island voters support Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman's ban prohibiting transgender women - ie biological males -- from competing against women and girls in county facilities. 

Blakeman, a Republican, announced the ban last month and, so far, the county has lost legal challenges to his order.

The question from today's poll: "Do you support or oppose Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman's executive order barring transgender females from participating in girls' sports at county parks and facilities."

This poll shows 53 percent of both Nassau and Suffolk voters support Blakeman's ban -- compared to last month's Siena poll which showed 66 percent of suburban voters supported restrictions against transgender athletes competing against people outside of their gender assigned at birth.

Newsday/Siena College Research Institute May 23,2024

That's a big difference in a month.

Maybe it came from adding Blakeman's name to the question?

Or maybe because Newsday's name was attached to the poll. 

Regardless, a majority still don't want males who identify as females competing against biological females.