online opt-in
YouGov
YouGov transgender rights study, wave 4 · Dec 17–18, 2024 · UK national
Methodology
- Pollster
- YouGov commercial
- Sponsor
- YouGov
- Fielded
- Dec 17–18, 2024
- Population
- adults
- Sample size
- 2,078
- Sample frame
- online opt-in
- Panel
- YouGov panel
- Mode
- online panel survey
- Margin of error
- not disclosed
- Weighting
- weighted to be representative of GB adults (gender, age, 2024 general election vote, EU referendum vote, social grade, region)
- Geography
- UK national
- Base notes
- Weighted n=2,078; unweighted n=2,078. Party breaks are 2024 general election vote (Con n=374 wtd, Lab n=534, Lib Dem n=191, Reform UK n=224).
Sources
Verification note. Wording and all figures read directly from YouGov's published data tables PDF. Column mapping (Total, Male, Female, 18-24, 25-49, 50-64, 65+, Con, Lab, Lib Dem, Reform UK, Remain, Leave, ABC1, C2DE) was cross-checked against YouGov's own write-up of the same wave and against the parallel familiarity crosstab, which reproduces the Total column identically. Fourth wave in a series with earlier waves in December 2018, June 2020 and May 2022.
Figures below are transcribed from these documents. Where they disagree with the source, the source governs.
Questions asked (25)
perceived prejudice against transgender people in British society
How much of a problem, if any, do you think prejudice against the following groups is in British society today? Transgender people
Not much of a problem
30%
A significant problem
29%
A major problem
16%
No problem at all
14%
Don't know
11%
TOTAL PROBLEM 46%TOTAL NOT A PROBLEM 44%
neutral — standard perceived-prejudice grid item with a symmetric scale
Subgroup figures (70)
attention paid to the transgender rights debate
In recent years there has been debate in the media and politics about rights for transgender people. How much attention, if any, have you personally paid to this?
Not much attention
39%
A fair amount of attention
33%
No attention at all
20%
A lot of attention
8%
TOTAL A LOT / FAIR AMOUNT 41%TOTAL NOT MUCH / NONE AT ALL 59%
neutral — standard attention item
whether people should be able to identify as a different gender socially
In the following questions a transgender person is someone who identifies as a different gender to their sex at birth, including people who identify as being non-binary. A transgender woman is someone who was biologically male at birth, but now identifies as a woman. A transgender man is someone who was biologically female at birth, but now identifies as a man.
Which of the following best reflects your view?
People should be able to identify as being of a different gender
49%
The law should not allow people to change their legal gender
48%
People should not be able to identify as being of a different gender
35%
The law should allow people to change their legal gender
34%
Not sure
17%
Wording notes: preamble defines transgender people in terms of birth sex
neutral — both alternatives stated symmetrically with an explicit 'not sure' option
Subgroup figures (50)
making the Gender Recognition Certificate process easier
Currently transgender people who wish to change their legal gender on official documents (e.g. birth certificate) have to apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate. This requires someone to have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria from one doctor and approval from a second doctor, provide evidence they have lived in their new gender for at least two years, and make a declaration they intend to live in their new gender for the rest of their life. The application is then approved or rejected by a panel of legal and medical professionals.
In principle, do you think it should or should not be made easier for transgender people to change their legal gender?
Should not be made easier
63%
Should be made easier
19%
Don't know
18%
Wording notes: long preamble enumerating each existing safeguard before asking about relaxation
tilts_restrictive — the preamble lists the existing requirements in detail immediately before asking whether the process should be eased, priming respondents on the safeguards that would be removed
Subgroup figures (30)
doctor approval requirement for legal gender change
Do you think a person should or should not have to obtain the approval of one or more doctors to change their legal gender?
Should have to obtain approval from one or more doctors
70%
Should not have to obtain approval from one or more doctors
13%
Don't know
18%
neutral — symmetric should/should not
Subgroup figures (30)
two-year lived-experience requirement for legal gender change
And do you think a person should or should not have to provide evidence they lived in their new gender for at least two years before they able to change their legal gender?
Should have to show they have lived in their new gender for two years
66%
Should not have to show they have lived in their new gender for two years
12%
Don't know
22%
neutral — symmetric should/should not
Subgroup figures (30)
removing the second-doctor requirement for a Gender Recognition Certificate
It has been suggested that the current process be changed so that the approval of a second doctor is not required for a Gender Recognition Certificate. Do you think the process should or should not be changed so that only the diagnosis from one doctor is required?
Should continue to require that another doctor give their approval
63%
Should be changed so that only the diagnosis from one doctor is required
19%
Don't know
18%
Wording notes: asked only in the December 2024 wave; no 2022 comparison
neutral — symmetric statement of the proposed change and the status quo
Subgroup figures (30)
removing the legal and medical panel from the GRC process
It has also been suggested that a person's application for a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) should no longer require approval by a panel of legal and medical professionals, but rather should be automatically granted if they meet all of the other requirements. Do you think the process should or should be changed so that approval by a legal and medical panel is no longer required?
Should continue to require approval by a panel of legal and medical professionals
57%
Should be changed to automatically grant a GRC if all other requirements are met
22%
Don't know
21%
Wording notes: asked only in the December 2024 wave; no 2022 comparison
neutral — symmetric statement of the proposed change and the status quo
Subgroup figures (30)
NHS availability of hormone treatment for adults
Do you think the following should or should not be available through the NHS for transgender people who wish to transition? Hormone treatment (i.e. taking hormones of the gender they identify as, which changes things like hair growth, fat and muscle distribution)
Should not be available
51%
Should be available
33%
Don't know
15%
neutral — descriptive treatment definition, symmetric response set
Subgroup figures (30)
NHS availability of gender reassignment surgery for adults
Do you think the following should or should not be available through the NHS for transgender people who wish to transition? Gender reassignment surgery (e.g. breast or genital surgery)
Should not be available
57%
Should be available
26%
Don't know
17%
neutral — descriptive treatment definition, symmetric response set
Subgroup figures (30)
puberty blockers for under-16s
Thinking about treatments which may be made available to children aged under 16 who are transgender, do you think the following should or should not be allowed? Puberty blockers (i.e. medications that delay the onset of puberty)
Should not be available to under 16s
75%
Should be available to under 16s
11%
Not sure
14%
Wording notes: uses 'children aged under 16'
neutral — treatment described in clinical terms, symmetric response set
Subgroup figures (30)
hormone treatment for under-16s
Thinking about treatments which may be made available to children aged under 16 who are transgender, do you think the following should or should not be allowed? Hormone treatment (i.e. taking hormones of the gender they identify as, which changes things like hair growth, fat and muscle distribution)
Should not be available to under 16s
78%
Should be available to under 16s
8%
Not sure
14%
Wording notes: uses 'children aged under 16'
neutral — treatment described in clinical terms, symmetric response set
Subgroup figures (30)
gender reassignment surgery for under-16s
Thinking about treatments which may be made available to children aged under 16 who are transgender, do you think the following should or should not be allowed? Gender reassignment surgery (e.g. breast or genital surgery)
Should not be available to under 16s
87%
Should be available to under 16s
3%
Not sure
10%
Wording notes: uses 'children aged under 16'
neutral — treatment described in clinical terms, symmetric response set
Subgroup figures (30)
trans women in women's sporting events
In the following questions a transgender woman is someone who was biologically male at birth, but now identifies as a woman. A transgender man is someone who was biologically female at birth, but now identifies as a man.
Do you think transgender women should or should not be allowed to... Take part in women's sporting events?
Should be allowed 12%74% Should not be allowed
Wording notes: preamble uses 'biologically male at birth'
neutral — symmetric should/should not
Subgroup figures (30)
trans women using women's changing rooms
In the following questions a transgender woman is someone who was biologically male at birth, but now identifies as a woman. A transgender man is someone who was biologically female at birth, but now identifies as a man.
Do you think transgender women should or should not be allowed to... Use women's changing rooms?
Should be allowed 25%58% Should not be allowed
Wording notes: preamble uses 'biologically male at birth'
neutral — symmetric should/should not
Subgroup figures (30)
trans women using women's toilets
In the following questions a transgender woman is someone who was biologically male at birth, but now identifies as a woman. A transgender man is someone who was biologically female at birth, but now identifies as a man.
Do you think transgender women should or should not be allowed to... Use women's toilets?
Should be allowed 29%55% Should not be allowed
Wording notes: preamble uses 'biologically male at birth'
neutral — symmetric should/should not
Subgroup figures (30)
trans women using women's refuges
In the following questions a transgender woman is someone who was biologically male at birth, but now identifies as a woman. A transgender man is someone who was biologically female at birth, but now identifies as a man.
Do you think transgender women should or should not be allowed to... Use women's refuges for victims of rape or assault (if they are a victim themselves)?
Should be allowed 29%52% Should not be allowed
Wording notes: conditions the item on the trans woman being a victim herself
neutral — the parenthetical condition makes the scenario concrete and is applied evenhandedly
Subgroup figures (30)
trans men in men's sporting events
In the following questions a transgender woman is someone who was biologically male at birth, but now identifies as a woman. A transgender man is someone who was biologically female at birth, but now identifies as a man.
Do you think transgender men should or should not be allowed to... Take part in men's sporting events?
Should be allowed 24%60% Should not be allowed
Wording notes: preamble uses 'biologically female at birth'
neutral — symmetric should/should not; asked as a mirror of the trans women battery
Subgroup figures (30)
trans men using men's changing rooms
In the following questions a transgender woman is someone who was biologically male at birth, but now identifies as a woman. A transgender man is someone who was biologically female at birth, but now identifies as a man.
Do you think transgender men should or should not be allowed to... Use men's changing rooms?
Should be allowed 32%49% Should not be allowed
Wording notes: preamble uses 'biologically female at birth'
neutral — symmetric should/should not
Subgroup figures (30)
trans men using men's toilets
In the following questions a transgender woman is someone who was biologically male at birth, but now identifies as a woman. A transgender man is someone who was biologically female at birth, but now identifies as a man.
Do you think transgender men should or should not be allowed to... Use men's toilets?
Should be allowed 35%47% Should not be allowed
Wording notes: preamble uses 'biologically female at birth'
neutral — symmetric should/should not
Subgroup figures (30)
whether trans women in women's spaces present a risk of harm
Do you believe that allowing transgender women to use spaces reserved for women, such as women's toilets or changing rooms, does or does not present a genuine risk of harm to women?
Does present a genuine risk of harm
55%
Does not present a genuine risk of harm
25%
Don't know
20%
Wording notes: introduces the concept of 'genuine risk of harm to women' into the item stem
loaded_terms — the stem supplies the harm frame itself; respondents are given the proposition to accept or reject rather than being asked open-endedly what concerns they have
Subgroup figures (30)
whether trans rights conflict with women's rights
Which of the following statements best reflects your view?
Poses a genuine risk to some women's rights
49%
Does not pose any genuine risk to women's rights
27%
Don't know or not sure
23%
Wording notes: frames trans recognition as a potential threat to women's rights
loaded_terms — both options are phrased around 'risk to women's rights', so the conflict frame is presupposed by the answer set even though the two directions are stated symmetrically
Subgroup figures (30)
non-binary 'X' marker on passports
Do you think that passports should or should not offer a "X" alternative for people who are non-binary?
Should not
58%
Should
25%
Don't know
17%
neutral — symmetric should/should not
Subgroup figures (30)
removing sex/gender from passports
Would you support or oppose changing passports, so they no longer show people's sex or gender?
neutral — symmetric support/oppose
Subgroup figures (30)
personal acquaintance with a transgender person
Do you personally know anyone who is transgender? Please select all that apply.
No I do not
58%
Yes, someone else I know
21%
Yes, a friend
12%
Yes, a colleague
7%
Yes, a family member
4%
I am transgender myself
1%
Don't know
3%
neutral — standard contact item