Women and young people are more open to transgenders
Women and younger people in the United States are more accepting of transgender issues compared to men and older people, according to a recent poll.
The poll, conducted on April 12 to 18 and released by Reuters/Ipsos, showed that those aged 18 to 29 are in favor of allowing transgenders to use restrooms based on their "gender identity," while those aged 60 and above are in favor of letting transgenders use restrooms based on the gender indicated on their birth ceritificates.
Of the women respondents, 44 percent said they have no problem letting a transgender male use female restrooms.
"As long as they're not harming anyone, not harming children, and are dressed as male or female according to the bathroom where they are going, they have the same rights as everybody else," respondent Debbie Dellera, who is 65 years old, told Reuters.
Transgender issues have taken centerstage recently, particularly in North Carolina where a new law was passed mandating transgenders to use restrooms according to the gender specified on their birth certificate. The law has caused an uproar among civil liberties groups and made some celebrities and businesses boycott the state.
North Carolina lawmakers have defended the law, saying privacy is one of the major issues considered in passing it.
"The way the ordinance was written by (the) City Council in Charlotte, it would have allowed a man to go into a bathroom, locker or any changing facility, where women are -- even if he was a man. We were concerned," North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore told CNN. "Obviously there is the security risk of a sexual predator, but there is the issue of privacy."
Some survey respondents agreed with the legislation. One of them, 76-year-old Dale Garvey, said he was concerned with "peeping Toms" that's why he preferred that transgenders use the restroom based on the gender assigned to them at birth.
