Ending employment discrimination
based on gender identity

Public opinion polls: 2001 to 2008

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Support for employment protection based on gender identity:

In 2009, The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund prepared a document titled: "Passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act: A toolkit." ₁

The Task Force has formed a coalition with many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) groups in order to promote the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (2009). The groups include the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund, National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), Pride at Work, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and a number of other colleague organizations.

The toolkit contains the following data from public opinion polls on whether discrimination of transgendered persons in employment should be prohibited.

Unfortunately, no polling data appears to be available from states in the deep South, where religious and social conservatives are plentiful and support for an end to employment discrimination based on gender identity is suspected to be much lower.

Polling on transgender employment discrimination Issues:

	National: Sixty-one percent believe that the country needs laws to protect transgender people from discrimination (2002; poll conducted by Lake Snell Perry & Associates).
	Ohio: Sixty percent of Ohio registered voters believe that laws should be passed banning discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations on both sexual orientation and gender identity or expression (2006 Glengariff Poll commissioned by Equality Ohio Education Fund).
	New Jersey: In 2005, a Zogby poll indicated that 70 percent of likely voters in New Jersey favored a state bill that would expand the state's law against discrimination to include gender identity and expression, while only 19 percent opposed it (released by Garden State Equality).
	New York: Seventy-eight percent of New Yorkers support a statewide bill that would provide protection against discrimination based on gender identity or expression, while only 13 percent do not (2008; poll conducted by the Global Strategy Group, released by Empire State Pride Agenda).

	North Carolina: When 2,000 North Carolinians were asked whether discrimination based on gender identity in public employment should be legal, 68 percent responded no, 16.4 percent responded yes, and 15.6 percent responded not sure. When the same question was asked about private employment, 61 percent responded no, 24 percent responded yes, and 15 percent responded not sure. (2001; poll conducted by the Lucas organization, released by Equality NC Project).
	Oregon: When likely voters were asked whether they support state nondiscrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity, 62 percent responded that they favor the law, while 28 percent do not favor it, and 10 percent responded that they were not sure. (2007; poll released by Basic Rights Oregon).
	Pennsylvania: Seventy-one percent of Pennsylvania voters support state legislation prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations. Eighty-six percent responded that there should be workplace equality for LGBT people (2007; poll conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research, released by Equality Advocates Pennsylvania).
	Washington state: Seventy-one percent of voters across demographic groups support ensuring equal rights for LGBT people, while only 22 percent are opposed (2005; poll conducted by Decision Research, released by Equal Rights Washington).

See also public opinion polls on the prevention
of employment discrimination against gays and lesbians.

Reference used in the above essay:

The following information source was used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlink is not necessarily still active today.

1. "Passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act: A toolkit," National Gay and Lesbian Task force Action Fund, Page 7, (2009), at: http://www.thetaskforce.org/ This is a PDF file.

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The toolkit is copyright © 2009 by The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund. The Fund "... encourages, and grants permission to, reproduce and distribute their guide ₁ in whole or in part, provided that it is done so with attribution."

Originally posted: 2009-AUG-08
Latest update: 2009-AUG-08

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