Majority of Utahns oppose transgender bathroom accommodations

Photo by Delpixart/Getty Images; St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Even though Utah made history recently as having the first transgender candidate for the U.S. Senate, a June poll from Dan Jones & Associates reports that a majority of Utahns either somewhat or strongly oppose transgender bathroom accommodations.

The poll was conducted between June 8-14 and asked registered Utah voters the following question:

Do you support or oppose individuals having the right to use public bathrooms on the basis of the gender with which the individual identifies?

Misty K. Snow at Tonaquint Intermediate School debating against Jonathan Swinton, St. George, Utah, June 14, 2016 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Misty K. Snow at Tonaquint Intermediate School debating against Jonathan Swinton, St. George, Utah, June 14, 2016 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News

[see Ed. Note]

A total of 57 percent of respondents stated they oppose individuals having this right. Of this number 48 percent said they “strongly oppose” it. Of those polled, 34 percent responded that they support these accommodations, with 23 percent strongly supporting. Nine percent reported being undecided.

In the June primaries, Misty Snow claimed a victory over Jonathan Swinton in the June Democratic primaries, making her the first transgender person in the country to be nominated for a congressional position by a major political party and putting her on a course to take on Republican Sen. Mike Lee.

This victory would seem to be in line with poll results showing a majority of Democratic respondents supporting transgender rights. Of the Democrats polled, 73 percent stated they support accommodations, with 55 percent strongly supporting. On the other side of the aisle, the numbers were almost identical: 73 percent opposing, with 65 percent strongly opposing. Independents reported 57 percent opposition.

Although Snow touted herself as a progressive candidate and said she was seeking to gain the millenial vote, of the Utahns polled between the ages of 18-34, more responded that they opposed transgender bathroom accommodations than supported them. The results were as follows:

  • 18-24 years old: 50 percent oppose and 45 percent support
  • 25-34 years old: 46 percent oppose and 44 percent support

In May, Utah — along with 10 other states — brought a lawsuit against the Obama administration following a federal directive to U.S. schools which would allow transgender students bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.


Read more: Utah joins 10 other states suing Obama over directive on transgender bathrooms


Utah Gov. Gary Herbert called the federal directive “one of the most egregious examples of federal overreach I have ever witnessed,” adding that the mandate was exactly what he had come to expect from the current administration.

Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes said:

The federal government’s ‘one size fits all’ mandate, disconnected from the needs of Utah schools, disrespects individuals and ignores the law.

The Utah Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Littlefield released a statement calling the lawsuit “another waste of taxpayer dollars, and a giant waste of time.”

“Rather than creating problems where there aren’t any,” Littlefield said, “Utah GOP leaders should re-evaluate their priorities and focus on the issues that will truly make a difference for Utah families.”

Ed. Note: The Dan Jones & Associates poll was commissioned by UtahPolicy.com.

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Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

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18 Comments

  • ladybugavenger July 5, 2016 at 12:14 pm

    Here we go again. This man (senate person) that played God and wants to be a women, and dresses like a women. well, he should use the women’s restroom. Even if he has a penis, because it’s perverted, in that you take a gender you were born and change it to another. I wouldn’t have problem with him in the female restroom, even tho he’s a man. But before he made the transition he should use the men’s restroom.

    Yes, my haters, it’s perverted. When you take something natural and make it unnatural it’s perversion.

    We all came from a man and a women procreating. That’s how babies are made.

    I’m not picking on gays and transgenders. There are many other perversions in this world, this is not the only one. Hillary for instance, perverts the law.

  • anybody home July 5, 2016 at 1:16 pm

    People who are offended by the transgender/bathroom issue are spending waaay to much time in the toilet. When I go into a public bathroom for women, I have no idea whose behind any of the other doors, nor do I care. It’s the same for men friends using men’s bathrooms. And as someone wisely said, “Transgender people don’t want to harm your children. They just want to pee.” In truth, I’m happy with places that have one bathroom for everybody. I just lock the door, take care of business and get out. (I’m sometimes annoyed when I follow a guy in and he’s left the seat up!)

    Get over it, people. Be happy you have public bathrooms with doors, which is not the case everywhere. Stop fretting about who has what equipment behind the door. Jesus weeps.

  • ladybugavenger July 5, 2016 at 2:23 pm

    It’s the children in school that I have a problem with. Boys should go to boys bathroom and girls go to girls bathroom. Not boys in girls restroom because they identify as a girl and vice versa.

    I’m a grown women and I’ve not yet had a problem in a bathroom. But yet, if you look me in the eyes you’d be too scared to mess with me LMBO! It is what it is.

  • .... July 5, 2016 at 2:36 pm

    While I was at Wal-Mart yesterday I bought two boxes of macaroni and cheese

    • Real Life July 5, 2016 at 7:10 pm

      And spent an hour at the pharmacy filling your scripts.

      • .... July 6, 2016 at 3:24 am

        No I spent two hours at the pharmacy because I had to sign the paperwork for you because you’re a minor and an idiot. .
        Fundraiser@crybabyRealLowlifeHasnofriends

        • Real Life July 7, 2016 at 9:18 am

          Ooooh. Looks like I hit a nerve. So Wal Mart is where you get all of them pills.

    • ladybugavenger July 5, 2016 at 7:16 pm

      Here’s a tip: Don’t buy store brand Mac&Cheese. I promise you it doesn’t taste the same as Kraft.

      • .... July 6, 2016 at 3:26 am

        Here’s another tip. .donate to the Dr Phil foundation so he can help all those RealLowlife’s

  • godisdead July 5, 2016 at 7:29 pm

    When i was a freshman in high school, I went into the boys bathroom, and there was a group of older boys beating up a popular, and very effeminate, boy. They had even pulled down his pants partway. The boy was crying, and the older boys were laughing at him. Some other boys came into the restroom, and the older boys left.
    The victim had been beaten up and sexually assaulted because he was different.
    Unfortunately, bullies are still in our society and they react because of their ignorance and fear.
    Calling strangers who are different derogatory names and making threats toward them is simply demonstrating ignorance and intolerance.
    Jesus! Yes it was Jesus who talked about the golden rule. Maybe we should all try to give these people, who are different than us, the same respect we ask for.

  • Mean Momma July 6, 2016 at 12:40 am

    My cousin is Transgender from male to female and I know for a fact most men would be very uncomfortable having her use the men’s restroom because she is a gorgeous woman… They would never know. I would be afraid for her to use the men’s room.

  • .... July 6, 2016 at 3:28 am

    are you saying we should be nice two RealLowlife ? Lmao ! Ha ha ha ha ha now that’s funny stuff right !

  • 42214 July 6, 2016 at 12:02 pm

    If we have to share the same bathroom can we get rid of those gross tiny trash cans ?

  • .... July 6, 2016 at 4:24 pm

    Ewwwwww that’s gross. can you imagine having to share the restroom with RealLowlife and RealMcStupid LMAO. ! Sigmund would have fun with this guy. ha ha ha ha now that’s funny stuff right there !

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