According to the most recent Rutgers- Eagleton Poll, New Jerseyans are debating whether to promote a child’s trans identification with their families if they do n’t feel safe coming out.
According to the poll conducted in December, fifty-four percent of students believe a teacher should n’t be required by law to tell a student’s parents about their transgender identity if a student confides such information to them and says they do n’t feel safe coming out.
Similarly, 55 percent say teachers should n’t feel a personal need to inform a student’s parents. There is no discernible difference in opinion between a teacher’s personal choice and being officially required. In either case, about 3 in 10 say the professor should inform the parents, and about 15 percent are uncertain what should be done.
According to Ashley Koning, an associate studies professor and director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Poll (ECPIP ) at Rutgers University–New Brunswick,” a majority of New Jerseyans support the state’s transgender student guidance that highlights the need for security and protection among school staff regarding a child’s trans position.” Residents of the state give this health and safety measure a much higher priority than adults do nationwide, where opinions on similar issues are discordant.
Most New Jerseyans believe transgender children either “frequently” (63 percent ) or “occasionally” ( 20 percent ) experience depression and anxiety. Similar numbers believe transgender children are either “frequently” or “occasionally” bullied by other children ( 53 percent and 26 percent, respectively ) and verbally harassed ( 51 percent and 26 percent, respectively ).
Seven in 10 say transgender children “frequently” ( 37 percent ) or “occasionally” ( 34 percent ) experience disapproval from their parents, slightly more than half ( 20 percent “frequently” and 31 percent “occasionally” ) say the same about experiencing disapproval from teachers. Two- thirds say transgender children “frequently” ( 30 percent ) or “occasionally” ( 34 percent ) experience physical abuse.
” New Jerseyans appear generally aware of the negative experiences transgender youth may encounter, at home or in school”, said Jessica Roman, a research associate at ECPIP. Nearly three-quarters of transgender and nonbinary young people experience symptoms of anxiety, and more than six in ten of them experience symptoms depression, according to the 2023 National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People conducted by the Trevor Project. More than a quarter ( 27 % ) of respondents said they’ve been physically threatened or harmed in the past year as a result of their gender identity.
According to Koning,” Statistics paint a clear picture of the ramifications of potentially outing a student to their family when they may come from an unsafe home.” According to data from the national data, transgender and nonbinary students report feeling more affirmed at school than at home. Wherever it may come from, this affirmation contributes to well-being and lowers the risk of suicide attempt.
With the exception of Republicans, 34 percent of this group, who claim teachers should n’t tell parents, compared to 54 percent who claim they should be legally required to do so ( 48 percent when the question omits legal requirements ), are in agreement with a majority of people. New Jerseyans who identify as LGBQ+]1 ] are the most likely of any group to say teachers should n’t legally be required to divulge this information (74 percent ), followed by Democrats ( 72 percent ), those ages 18 to 34 ( 65 percent ), and women (61 percent ).
Republicans are consistently – often by double digits – less likely than independents or especially Democrats to say transgender children “frequently” experience bullying, disapproval, mental health issues, verbal harassment and physical abuse. With about 20 point gaps between bullying, mental health issues, and harassment, according to independents, transgender children experience these experiences less frequently than Democrats.
Residents between the ages of 18 and 24 are consistently more likely than those in older age groups, and those who know someone who is transgender or transgender themselves are consistently more likely than those who do n’t or do n’t think transgender children “frequently” experience these issues. In comparison to their heterosexual counterparts, LGBQ+ residents are especially more likely to say that transgender children experience these issues “frequently.”
Nearly half of New Jerseyans ( 48 percent ) say they know someone who is transgender and/or identify as transgender themselves. More than half of residents who identify as LGBQ+ ( 77 percent ), those ages 18 to 34 years old ( 56 percent ), those living in exurban areas ( 55 percent ), residents in the highest income bracket ( 54 percent ), Hispanic residents ( 53 percent ), those who have done graduate work ( 53 percent ), Democrats ( 51 percent ), and independents ( 51 percent ) know someone who is transgender and/or identify as transgender themselves. Only two demographic groups come in under 40 percent – Republicans ( 37 percent ) and senior citizens ( 35 percent ).
Results are from a statewide poll of 1, 657 adults contacted through multiple modes, including by live interviewer on landline and cell phone, MMS text invitation to web, and the probability- based Rutgers- Eagleton/SSRS Garden State Panel from Dec. 13 to Dec. 23. The full sample has a margin of error of + /- 2.8 percentage points. The sample of registered voters has 1, 451 registered voters and a margin of error of +/- 3.0 percentage points.
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