online opt-in
YouGov
YouGov / Sex Matters Survey Results (May 2025) · May 8–9, 2025 · UK national
Methodology
- Pollster
- YouGov commercial
- Sponsor
- Sex Matters
- Commissioned by
- Sex Matters
- Fielded
- May 8–9, 2025
- Population
- adults
- Sample size
- 2,106
- Sample frame
- online opt-in
- Panel
- YouGov Plc GB panel (185,000+ individuals)
- Mode
- online - YouGov GB panel, email invitation to randomly selected panellists
- Margin of error
- not disclosed
- Weighting
- responding sample weighted to the profile of the sample definition (all GB adults 18+); profile normally derived from census or industry-accepted data
- Geography
- UK national
Sources
Verification note. All wording and figures read directly from the YouGov data tables PDF (SexMatters_Results_250509.pdf), retrieved 2026-08-27. Party columns are 'Vote in 2024 GE'. The client, Sex Matters, is a gender-critical campaigning charity; YouGov is the fieldwork house and the tables carry standard YouGov/British Polling Council methodology text.
Figures below are transcribed from these documents. Where they disagree with the source, the source governs.
Questions asked (12)
which toilet facilities transgender women should use (four-option version)
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.
Which toilet facilities do you think transgender women should use?
Unisex toilets
41%
The men's toilets
20%
Whichever toilets they prefer to use
19%
The women's toilets
14%
Don't know
6%
Wording notes: preamble defines transgender woman as 'biologically male at birth' | adds 'unisex toilets' and 'whichever they prefer' options not present in earlier two-option versions
tilts_restrictive — the added 'unisex toilets' option is a compromise response that draws support away from 'the women's toilets'; Sex Matters itself notes the option set differs from previous polls, so the 14% figure is not comparable with two-option trends
Subgroup figures (20)
which toilet facilities transgender men should use
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.
And which toilet facilities do you think transgender men should use?
Unisex toilets
40%
Whichever toilets they prefer to use
20%
The women's toilets
17%
The men's toilets
17%
Don't know
7%
Wording notes: parallel to the transgender-women item
neutral — symmetric with the preceding item; same option set
Subgroup figures (20)
awareness of the For Women Scotland Supreme Court ruling
In April the UK Supreme Court issued a ruling about the definition of a woman and sex in UK equality law. How aware, if at all, are you of this story?
I am aware of it and know a little about it
51%
I am aware of it and know a lot about it
26%
I am aware of it, but don't know anything about it
11%
I was not aware of this story at all
11%
neutral — standard awareness scale, no directional cue
Subgroup figures (16)
approval of the Supreme Court ruling that 'sex' in the Equality Act means biological sex
The Supreme Court ruled that when the Equality Act provides rights based on people's sex, it means their biological sex. From what you have seen or heard, do you think the Court made the right or wrong decision in this case?
The right decision
63%
The wrong decision
18%
Don't know
19%
Wording notes: describes the ruling in the Court's own terms without stating the effect on transgender people
tilts_restrictive — the stem states only the Court's holding and does not mention that its effect is to exclude transgender women, including those with gender recognition certificates, from the legal category of woman; respondents are also cued to the authority of the Court
Subgroup figures (22)
whether the ruling clarified the law on women's rights as applied to transgender people
Do you think the Supreme Court ruling has made the law around women's rights and how they apply to transgender people clear or not?
Has made it clear
52%
Has not made it clear
27%
Don't know
21%
neutral — balanced two-sided alternative with an explicit don't-know
Subgroup figures (12)
expected impact of the ruling on the respondent personally
What impact, if any, do you think the Supreme Court's ruling will have on... You personally
Will make no real difference
77%
Very positive
7%
Fairly positive
6%
Fairly negative
4%
Very negative
2%
Don't know
4%
TOTAL POSITIVE 13%TOTAL NEGATIVE 6%
Wording notes: grid item
neutral — symmetric positive/negative scale with a no-difference midpoint
Subgroup figures (32)
expected impact of the ruling on friends and family
What impact, if any, do you think the Supreme Court's ruling will have on... Your friends and family
Will make no real difference
71%
Very negative
4%
Don't know
6%
TOTAL POSITIVE 12%TOTAL NEGATIVE 11%
Wording notes: grid item
neutral — symmetric scale
Subgroup figures (22)
expected impact of the ruling in workplaces
What impact, if any, do you think the Supreme Court's ruling will have on... Workplaces
Will make no real difference
37%
Fairly positive
16%
Fairly negative
14%
Very positive
10%
Very negative
6%
Don't know
17%
TOTAL POSITIVE 26%TOTAL NEGATIVE 20%
Wording notes: grid item
neutral — symmetric scale
Subgroup figures (33)
expected impact of the ruling on sport and leisure activities
What impact, if any, do you think the Supreme Court's ruling will have on... Sport and leisure activities
Very positive
23%
Will make no real difference
20%
Fairly positive
18%
Fairly negative
15%
Very negative
9%
Don't know
16%
TOTAL POSITIVE 41%TOTAL NEGATIVE 24%
Wording notes: grid item
neutral — symmetric scale
Subgroup figures (33)
English sports governing bodies barring transgender women from women's teams
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.
Last week the governing bodies for several major sports in England, including football, cricket and netball announced that transgender women will no longer be eligible to play in women's teams in England. Generally speaking, do you think this is...
The right decision
74%
The wrong decision
12%
Don't know
14%
Wording notes: preamble defines transgender woman as 'biologically male at birth' | cites the governing bodies' announcement as a fait accompli
tilts_restrictive — the stem presents an already-taken decision by respected sporting authorities, which invites endorsement; no counter-argument or effect on trans athletes is stated
Subgroup figures (16)
sex/gender shown on driving licences and passports
Thinking about the information that is shown on official documents like driving licences and passports, do you think they should show...
The person's biological sex at birth
52%
The gender that the person identifies as
24%
Neither
12%
Don't know
12%
Wording notes: 'biological sex at birth' versus 'the gender that the person identifies as'
neutral — the two alternatives are stated symmetrically and a 'neither' escape is offered
Subgroup figures (16)
basis for male/female status in a government digital ID app
The Government is currently developing digital services that will enable people to share official information about themselves via an app on their phone. If the new app can be used as proof that someone is male or female what do you think this should be based on?
The person's biological sex at birth
54%
The gender that the person identifies as
23%
Neither
6%
Don't know
17%
Wording notes: ties the question to a live government programme
neutral — symmetric alternatives with 'neither' and 'don't know' available
Subgroup figures (16)