Majority of Americans back trans equality, new survey finds

A clear majority of Americans support equal rights and protections for trans people, according to new survey data released to mark Transgender Day of Visibility, despite ongoing political debates and legislative challenges across the United States.

The polling, conducted in February 2026 for the Human Rights Campaign Foundation by research firm SSRS, found that support for trans equality is both broad and consistent across demographic groups - including among Republicans.

The survey shows overwhelming public support for a range of protections:

• 85% support equal rights and protections for transgender people
• 89% back equal access to healthcare
• 79% support workplace protections
• 83% favour protections for transgender students

Researchers say the findings indicate that support for “basic fairness” remains robust even in a politically polarised climate.

The data also highlights the impact of personal relationships. Around 41% of US adults say they know someone who is transgender - a higher figure than previously recorded - while 27% report speaking with a transgender person regularly.

Those with direct contact are consistently more supportive of transgender equality. The effect is strongest among people who have frequent conversations with transgender individuals, suggesting that familiarity and ongoing interaction deepen understanding and support.

Previous research has pointed to a similar trend, with closer and more meaningful relationships often associated with more positive attitudes.

The higher proportion of Americans reporting that they know a transgender person may reflect growing visibility and improved measurement of social connections, capturing a wider range of relationships from family and friends to colleagues and acquaintances.

However, regular interaction remains less common, indicating that while awareness is rising, sustained personal engagement is still limited.

Support for transgender rights spans political affiliation, race, ethnicity and gender, with majority backing recorded across all groups surveyed. Even among Republicans, more than half of respondents supported each of the measures tested.

The findings suggest that public opinion may be more settled than political discourse implies, with a broad consensus in favour of equal treatment and legal protections.

The survey was conducted between 20 and 23 February 2026 using SSRS’s probability-based national panel. A total of 1,032 adults took part via online and telephone interviews.