A new poll released by Rasmussen Reports probably has given President Obama a few headaches already.
The poll looked at Americans’ views on his administration’s recent transgender mandate, and predictably, a majority are opposed to it. But, it’s not just the general opposition to opposite-sex bathroom and locker room use that should get his attention.
Speaking of that opposition, 51 percent of those polled oppose allowing transgender students to use opposite-sex bathrooms, while 33 percent said they supported the decision. Meanwhile, 16 percent said they were undecided.
Surprisingly, opposition to transgender use of opposite-sex bathrooms has fallen off since the last time Rasmussen polled on the issue:
This compares with 64% who were opposed last November to a U.S. Education Department directive allowing transgender people to use the bathrooms and locker rooms of the opposite sex. Just 21% were in favor, while 16% were undecided.
Not surprisingly, parents of school-age children, who are most directly impacted by Obama’s directive, are more strongly opposed than the average American. According to the poll, 55 percent are opposed, while 32 percent were in favor, and just 13 percent were unsure.
Women seem to support the move more than men, and younger adults generally approved of it more than older adults. About half of all Democrats polled supported the policy, while only 13 percent of Republicans and 30 percent of politically independent respondents agreed.
The president should, however, pay attention to this key part of the poll:
However, where students go to the bathroom is really not the business of the federal government, Americans say. Consistent with past surveying on other education issues, just 24% believe the federal government should be responsible for setting bathroom policies in elementary and secondary schools.
Just as many (25%) say that’s the responsibility of state government, while another 41% think local government should decide what school bathroom policies are.
Among voters who favor the new policy, 51 percent said they believe the federal government should be responsible for setting school bathroom policies. A majority of those who oppose the new policy—56 percent—said it should instead be a responsibility of local government.
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