online opt-in
Angus Reid Institute
Canada and the Culture Wars, Part Two: Gender identity and transgender issues · Jul 26–31, 2023 · Canada national
Methodology
- Pollster
- Angus Reid Institute independent
- Sponsor
- Angus Reid Institute
- Fielded
- Jul 26–31, 2023
- Population
- adults
- Sample size
- 3,016
- Sample frame
- online opt-in
- Panel
- Angus Reid Forum
- Mode
- online survey of Angus Reid Forum panel members
- Margin of error
- for comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of ±1.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20
- Weighting
- representative randomized sample of Angus Reid Forum members (ARI does not publish detailed weighting targets in the release)
- Geography
- Canada national
- Base notes
- An additional 322 Canadians who do not identify as male or female, also members of the Angus Reid Forum, were surveyed as a population booster and are reported separately as 'prefer to self-describe'. Several items were split-sampled into thirds presenting a child aged eight, 12 or 16.
Sources
Verification note. Percentages, fieldwork dates, sample size and MOE read from the Angus Reid Institute release page. The release links a PDF questionnaire and detailed tables that were not retrieved, so the exact question wording is a close paraphrase of the release's description rather than the fielded text. || Percentages, fieldwork dates, sample size and MOE read from the Angus Reid Institute release page. The release links a PDF questionnaire and detailed tables that were not retrieved, so the exact question wording is a close paraphrase of the release's description rather than the fielded text. | UPDATED 2026-08-27: the full ARI report PDF (2023.09.19_Gender_Trans_issues.pdf) was retrieved and six further questions from the SAME fielding (26-31 July 2023, n=3,016) were added, with verbatim wording and the ARI-written 'transgender' definition preamble. The PDF's chart data extracts as scrambled text, so only percentages that ARI states in its prose (or that could be unambiguously matched to prose) were transcribed; the underlying stacked-bar values were NOT used where they could not be reconciled. Specifically, the parental-reaction chart's total column reads 12/57/12/6/13 which does not reconcile with ARI's prose figure of 9% for 'reject entirely', so only the prose figures are recorded for that item. ARI links detailed demographic and 'Canadian Culture Mindset' tables which were not retrieved. || Question wording taken verbatim from ARI's published questionnaire (2023.09.19_part_two_qnnaire.pdf); percentages taken from the release PDF's charts and cross-checked against ARI's own prose descriptions of each figure. Where a stacked-bar chart could not be unambiguously decomposed, only the net figures ARI states in prose are recorded. Note the survey was self-commissioned and paid for by ARI. A second release from the same fielding covers the school pronoun-policy item.
Figures below are transcribed from these documents. Where they disagree with the source, the source governs.
Questions asked (17)
parental notification and consent when a student wishes to change pronouns at school
Which policy do you prefer for school districts regarding a student who wishes to change their pronouns: parents are informed and their consent is required; parents are informed but their consent is not needed; or parents have no role?
Wording reconstructed from: Reconstructed from the Angus Reid Institute release's description of the three policy options; the fielded wording is in the release's linked PDF questionnaire, which was not retrieved.
Parents informed and consent required
43%
Parents informed, consent not needed
35%
Parents have no role
14%
Wording notes: three-way choice with no 'depends' or 'not sure' option reported
unclear — the fielded wording was not retrieved, so the framing cannot be assessed; the three published options are ordered from most to least parental authority
Subgroup figures (9)
party
age
region
parent_status
perceived discrimination against transgender people
The word "transgender" is an umbrella term that refers to people who identify as a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth (based on a doctor's observation of their genitals). Transgender people may identify as men or women, or neither, or both. Some transgender people choose to have surgery, so their genitals match their gender identity, but many do not.
Transgender people face a lot of discrimination in their daily lives
Wording notes: preceded by an explicit ARI-written definition of 'transgender' intended to establish baseline knowledge
neutral — a standard perceived-discrimination item; the preamble is descriptive rather than evaluative, though supplying any definition shapes how the rest of the battery is read
whether increasing acceptance of transgender people is social progress
The word "transgender" is an umbrella term that refers to people who identify as a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth (based on a doctor's observation of their genitals). Transgender people may identify as men or women, or neither, or both. Some transgender people choose to have surgery, so their genitals match their gender identity, but many do not.
Increasing acceptance of transgender people is a sign of social progress
Wording notes: 'social progress' is a positively valenced frame
tilts_affirming — framing acceptance as 'social progress' attaches a positive value label to the affirming response
Subgroup figures (2)
how much attention transgender issues receive from news media
The word "transgender" is an umbrella term that refers to people who identify as a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth (based on a doctor's observation of their genitals). Transgender people may identify as men or women, or neither, or both. Some transgender people choose to have surgery, so their genitals match their gender identity, but many do not.
Attention paid to transgender issues from Canadian news media
Too much attention
60%
About the right amount of attention
22%
Too little attention
12%
Don't know/Can't say
6%
Wording notes: one row of a grid also covering the federal government, provincial government, and universities and schools
neutral — a symmetric too much / right amount / too little scale
Subgroup figures (3)
how a parent would react to a child showing an affinity for another gender identity
The word "transgender" is an umbrella term that refers to people who identify as a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth (based on a doctor's observation of their genitals). Transgender people may identify as men or women, or neither, or both. Some transgender people choose to have surgery, so their genitals match their gender identity, but many do not.
Suppose you were the parent of a child who, for the last few years, has been behaving in a way that shows an affinity for a gender identity other than the one they were assigned at birth. What do you think your reaction to this would be?
Resist this behaviour and work to change it
12%
Reject this behaviour entirely
9%
Accept and work with the child to make this comfortable (net of enthusiastic and cautious acceptance) 69%
Wording notes: all four substantive options describe the child's gender identity as 'this behaviour' | hypothetical projected onto all respondents, including non-parents
loaded_terms — every response option calls the child's gender identity 'this behaviour', which frames identity as conduct to be accepted, resisted or rejected rather than as a state; 'work to change it' also imports the vocabulary of conversion practice
Subgroup figures (1)
hormone therapy for a child at ages 8, 12 and 16 (split sample)
The word "transgender" is an umbrella term that refers to people who identify as a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth (based on a doctor's observation of their genitals). Transgender people may identify as men or women, or neither, or both. Some transgender people choose to have surgery, so their genitals match their gender identity, but many do not. [Section preamble, written by ARI: describes hormone-blocking agents, gender-affirming hormones and transition-related surgeries; notes WPATH guidance that hormone therapy may begin at 14, Canadian Paediatric Society guidance on blockers, European pushback and pauses in prescribing, and the evidence on reduced depression and suicidal ideation.]
If an individual wanted to begin hormone therapy at age [8/12/16], would you support or oppose this?
Support (net, all three ages combined)
21%
Wording notes: split sample by the child's age (8, 12, 16) | the section preamble presents both risk and benefit evidence but leads with risks | the item says 'an individual' rather than naming the child as transgender
neutral — the age split is a deliberate and informative experimental manipulation, and the ARI preamble presents arguments on both sides; the ambiguity of 'an individual' is the main weakness
Subgroup figures (5)
a child born a boy who identifies as a girl playing in all-girl leagues (split sample by age)
The word "transgender" is an umbrella term that refers to people who identify as a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth (based on a doctor's observation of their genitals). Transgender people may identify as men or women, or neither, or both. Some transgender people choose to have surgery, so their genitals match their gender identity, but many do not.
Suppose an (eight-, 12-, 16-) year-old was born a boy but now identifies as a girl. They now want to play sports with other girls. Should the child be allowed to play whatever sport she wants in these all-girl leagues?
It depends on the sport
39%
Yes
31%
No
30%
Wording notes: split sample by age | 'was born a boy but now identifies as a girl' foregrounds birth sex | offers a middle 'depends on the sport' option, which most other trans-sport items do not
neutral — the introduction states the argument on both sides (the child's right to play with same-identifying peers versus suggested physical advantage), and the 'depends on the sport' option lets respondents give a conditional answer instead of being forced to a pole - which is why the middle category is the largest
whether the male/female binary is sufficient
What is closer to your view?
We should identify individuals as male or female
56%
That's too limiting, we need to expand the definitions
34%
Not sure/Can't say
10%
Wording notes: the expansive option is labelled with the evaluative phrase 'That's too limiting'
unclear — the binary option is stated flatly while the alternative is stated as a criticism ('That's too limiting'), which is not quite symmetric
Subgroup figures (3)
definition of a woman
Some people who identify as women were born with male genitals. In this case, do you personally feel that:
Anyone who wishes can identify as a woman
35%
Women are those who were born with female genitals only
34%
Women are those who have female genitals, regardless of whether they were born with them or changed them though surgery
18%
Not really sure/can't say
12%
Wording notes: defines womanhood in terms of genitalia in two of the three substantive options
loaded_terms — the stem and two of three options frame the question around genitals rather than gender identity, which centres a physical criterion the affirming position rejects
Subgroup figures (2)
whether news media give transgender issues too much attention
The word "transgender" is an umbrella term that refers to people who identify as a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth (based on a doctor's observation of their genitals). Transgender people may identify as men or women, or neither, or both. Some transgender people choose to have surgery, so their genitals match their chosen gender identity, but many do not.
Based on whatever you've seen, read, or heard about transgender people and issues related to them, would you say this topic has been receiving too much, too little, or about the right amount of attention from each of the following? The news media
Too much attention
60%
About the right amount of attention
22%
Too little attention
12%
Don't know/Can't say
6%
Wording notes: randomized rows across five institutions
neutral — symmetric too much / about right / too little scale
Subgroup figures (3)
perceived discrimination against transgender people
Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements. Transgender people face a lot of discrimination in their daily lives
Wording notes: rows randomized
neutral — symmetric agree/disagree grid
whether increasing acceptance of trans people is social progress
Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements. Increasing acceptance of transgender people is a sign of social progress
Wording notes: rows randomized
neutral — symmetric agree/disagree grid; 'social progress' is an evaluative phrase but is the natural way to state the proposition
gender-neutral terms for women, birth and motherhood
How do you feel about the trend of using gender neutral terms when talking about women, birth, and motherhood. Some examples of this are saying "people who menstruate" instead of women or "people who give birth" instead of mothers. Would you say this is:
A bad thing - it devalues the female identity in society
67%
A good thing - makes the language more inclusive
17%
Not sure/Can't say
16%
Wording notes: each option carries its own justification clause
unclear — both options are argument-laden rather than neutral labels ('makes the language more inclusive' vs 'devalues the female identity'), which loads the choice in both directions at once
Subgroup figures (2)
reaction to one's own child expressing a different gender identity
Suppose you were the parent of an (eight-, 12-, 16-) year-old child who, for the last few years, has been behaving in a way that shows an affinity for a gender identity other than the one they were assigned at birth based on their biological sex. In this situation, what do you think your reaction would be? Would you:
Resist this behaviour and work to change it
12%
Accept and accommodate (enthusiastically accept + cautiously accept, net) 69%
Wording notes: split sample: one third each shown an eight-, 12- or 16-year-old | options rotated | describes gender identity as 'this behaviour'
loaded_terms — every response option refers to the child's gender identity as 'this behaviour', which frames identity as conduct to be accepted or corrected
Subgroup figures (1)
parental notification and consent for a name/pronoun change at school
In New Brunswick, a proposed policy change would require parental consent for children younger than 16 who wish to change their preferred pronoun or name. Which policy do you prefer?
Parents must be informed AND give consent for this change
43%
Parents must be informed if their child wants to identify differently
35%
Parents should neither be informed nor have a say - it's up to the child
14%
Not sure/Can't say
8%
Wording notes: anchored to a live New Brunswick policy proposal
neutral — the three options span the full policy range from parental veto to child autonomy
Subgroup figures (9)
party
age
region
parent_status
hormone therapy for a minor
Some transgender health organizations now recommend that children who want to transition from one gender to another should be able to receive hormone therapy at age before they reach the age of majority. If an individual wanted to begin hormone therapy at age (eight, 12, 16), would you support or oppose this?
Support (net) 21%Oppose (net) 63%
Wording notes: split sample: one third each shown age eight, 12 or 16 | including age eight, below any clinical guideline, as one of the three arms
tilts_restrictive — one of the three randomized arms asks about hormone therapy at age eight, which no clinical guideline endorses; combining the three arms therefore pulls the reported total below what an age-appropriate item would yield
Subgroup figures (3)
other
parent_status
lgbtq_status
a trans girl playing in all-girl youth leagues
Suppose an (eight-, 12-, 16-) year-old was born a boy but now identifies as a girl. They now want to play sports with other girls. Are there any sports where you feel this is inappropriate, or should the child be allowed to play whatever sport she wants in these all-girl leagues?
Should be allowed 31%30% Should not be allowed
Wording notes: split sample by age of child | stem uses 'was born a boy' | middle option ('it depends on the sport') is offered explicitly
unclear — the explicit middle option makes this less forced than most sports items, but the stem's phrasing 'was born a boy but now identifies as a girl' foregrounds birth sex