Bospar
conducted the survey for the 50th anniversary of Pride Month, polling
over 2,000 American adults from May 24-31, 2019. The PR agency
discovered that an overwhelming majority of Americans would vote for a
straight man (91%) or a straight woman (90%) and that 78% believe the
U.S. is ready for a female president.
Is America Ready for an Openly Gay President?
When
asked if they would vote for a gay president, 69% said they would.
However, a smaller percentage (52%) believe America is ready for an
openly gay president.
Of
those who would not vote for an openly gay or lesbian president, who
was in all other ways their ideal political candidate, top reasons were:
- I don't believe a gay president would have my best interests at heart (38%)
- I believe an openly gay president would make the United States look weak (32%)
- LGBTQIA people go against my religion (30%)
- LGBTQIA people go against nature (23%)
- I am uncomfortable with LGBTQIA people (19%)
A
majority of Americans (57%) would also vote for a transgender
president. While no transgender candidate is running – yet – the top
choice was Caitlyn Jenner, followed by Laverne Cox.
Americans Like Buttigieg
If
Pete Buttigieg becomes the Democratic presidential nominee, 65% of
Democrats – along with 26% of Republicans and 39% of other voters – say
they’ll vote for him.
Of those that will not, only 20% (across party lines) cited his sexuality.
Only
about 1 in 5 Americans read the recent Time magazine feature on Pete
Buttigieg, but a majority of those who did liked him more after reading
it – including 72% of Republicans.
Americans
feel that Buttigieg will work hardest for the LGTBQIA community if
elected. The LGBTQIA community put Bernie Sanders in the number two
spot, while straight Americans put Donald Trump at number two.
“A
growing number of Americans are ready for a gay or lesbian president
and Mayor Pete’s historic race will only accelerate that trend,” said
Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. “For
many, until recently, a viable LGBTQ presidential candidate seemed
unlikely or a distant dream. But as Americans see Mayor Pete stumping at
town halls and speaking to voters from the presidential debate stage,
skepticism about the electability of an LGBTQ candidate will fade. More
than two-thirds of Americans already say they will vote for a gay or
lesbian president – we only have one-third to convince.”
“The
data tells us that the future will bring a more tolerant electorate,”
said Gabrielle Ayala, a principal of Propeller Insights. “Across the
board, younger Americans are more open to having someone other than a
straight man as the president of the United States. Of the three
generational groups we looked at, millennials are the most willing to
vote for Pete Buttigieg. Given that this group also puts human rights as
their political priority, we see that they care less about wealth and
more about a future in which all Americans have a fair shot.”
“Never
in my life did I think I would see an openly gay man run for the
presidency – and get so much support,” said Curtis Sparrer, a principal
of Bospar. “Regardless of political party, our research shows that
Buttigieg’s candidacy is helping Americans feel better about LGBTQIA
equality and people. Whether he wins or not, Buttigieg has scored a
crucial victory.”
