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In the latest national survey, Gallup has uncovered a significant shift in Americans' attitudes toward transgender athlete participation in single-gender sports. 

The findings indicate a decrease in support for transgender athletes playing for teams aligned with their gender identity compared to two years ago. 

Despite a rise in people claiming to know someone transgender, the survey reveals that the issue is primarily seen as a matter of competitive fairness rather than transgender civil rights.

Views on the Transgender athlete polled 

The Gallup survey was conducted via telephone with 1,011 U.S. adults. It spotlights that 69% of Americans now believe that transgender athletes should be limited to sports teams that align with their birth gender. This is compared to 62% in 2021. 

Similarly, only 26% of Americans support transgender athletes playing for teams matching their gender identity, down from 34% two years ago.

The issue of transgender athlete participation is gaining momentum as a prominent battleground in the approaching 2024 elections. With over 1.6 million Americans identifying as transgender and a significant portion under the age of 18, the topic has become a focal point for Republicans. 

This year, more than 500 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures, over 40 of which aim to prohibit transgender students from participating in school sports.

The political divide is evident in the Gallup poll, as it reveals that Republicans staunchly oppose transgender athletes' ability to choose their sports teams (93%), while independents also lean toward opposition (67%). Democrats exhibit a split opinion, with 48% disapproving and 47% supporting.

Surprisingly, despite a higher percentage of Americans claiming to personally know a transgender person (39% compared to 31% in 2021), support for transgender athletes playing on teams aligned with their gender identity has declined among both those who know and those who do not know transgender individuals.

Interestingly, young adults stand out as one subgroup where support for transgender athletes' ability to choose their sports team increased from 35% in 2021 to 41% this year. This finding aligns with the notion that younger Americans exhibit more accepting views.

In terms of moral acceptance, the Gallup survey reveals that 55% of Americans consider changing one's gender to be morally wrong, while 43% find it morally acceptable. These figures indicate a slight decline in acceptance compared to 2021 when 51% found it morally wrong and 46% considered it morally acceptable.

 Science

The perception is that transgender women may retain physical advantages from their birth gender.

The survey also resonates with a 2021 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, which suggests that transgender women maintain an athletic advantage over their cisgender peers even after a year of hormone therapy. 

Dr. Timothy Roberts, the study's lead author, highlights that the current one-year waiting period for Olympic athletes who are transitioning may not be sufficient. 

He suggests that a two-year waiting period would be more realistic to ensure a level playing field. These findings shed light on the complexity of the issue and challenge the notion of equal athletic abilities between genders.

Jeff Jones, senior editor at Gallup, acknowledges that attitudes toward LGBTQ issues have generally become more accepting over the past two decades. And the perception of transgender athlete participation might continue to be influenced by concerns of competitive fairness.

 As the issue evolves, it remains to be seen whether Americans will become more comfortable and accepting or if the debate will persist due to differing viewpoints on the matter.