A relatively new but increasingly prominent topic of political debate involves policies and laws related to transgender individuals, who make up roughly 0.6% of the U.S. population. The three issues at the forefront of this political debate are:
- Public bathrooms
- Sports
- Medical intervention for transgender minors
States have handled these topics differently. Two states (Florida and Utah) require individuals to use the bathroom matching their sex assigned at birth in all government buildings including schools; 11 states have requirements only in K-12 schools, and 37 states have no relevant laws.
For sports, roughly half of states have laws restricting transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports.
The most heavily legislated issue thus far concerns transgender medical intervention (also referred to as “gender-affirming care”) for minors. Twenty-four states have banned medication and surgery to transition minors; 16 states have protected access to such treatments for transgender individuals of all ages; and 10 states have no relevant laws.
Both Sides
The vast majority (86%) of Republicans believe that gender is determined at birth and that sex assigned at birth should be the basis of U.S. legislation. Republicans generally think that allowing transgender individuals to use public bathrooms according to their gender identity poses unacceptable risks to girls and women, that transgender women competing in female sports is a violation of fairness, and that minors are too young to consent to the life-altering consequences of taking medication or undergoing surgery meant to transition genders.
The majority of Democrats believe that an individual’s gender can be different from their sex assigned at birth; this belief is highest among younger Democrats (72% of 18–29-year-olds). Democrats generally believe that the risks of transgender women using women’s bathrooms are minimal, and laws banning transgender people from their desired bathroom, sports team, and healthcare are discriminatory and will cause avoidable mental health problems.
Candidate Stances
Vice President Harris has made LGBTQ+ rights a key part of her candidacy. In 2024, the Biden/Harris Administration reaffirmed its position that “gender-affirming surgeries” should be legal for minors and broadened Title IX to prevent discrimination based on gender identity (blocked in some states by the courts). Harris’s running mate, Tim Walz (D-MN), is credited with making Minnesota a “trans refuge” and protecting access to “gender-affirming care” for adults and children.
Former President Trump believes gender matches a person’s sex assigned at birth. He says he would cut federal funding for schools pushing “transgender insanity” and undo the Biden administration’s policy including transgender students under Title IX. Trump said, “We will not have men playing in women’s sports.” He also vowed to “stop” puberty blockers and surgery to transition minors, which he equated with child “abuse” and “sexual mutilation.”
Eternal Perspectives
When discussing divisive topics, such as gender policy, remember that both your stance and how you take your stance reflect on Christ. Being peaceable, gentle, open to reason, and unwavering in the face of culturally hot topics can all be signs of God’s wisdom in us.
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense.”
James 3:17 (CSB)
This is part of our Election Collection articles series, created to help Christians grow in understanding and compassion on key issues surrounding the 2024 presidential election.
Statistics taken from a Pew Research Study conducted in May 2022.
Last Updated: August 14, 2024
