Just in time for the 2018 midterms—likely the most important election year in recent memory for LGBTQ people—GLAAD has conducted its very first ‘Electing Acceptance’ national survey of 1,165 candidates seeking elected office across the nation.
The unique survey gathered data from candidates in all 50 states who are currently running for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
While the questions are similar to GLAAD’s and The Harris Poll’s Accelerating Acceptance Report, which gauges acceptance of LGBTQ people among all Americans, this new survey is aimed only at those who hope to be our elected leaders. According to GLAAD, it is the only survey that specifically measures LGBTQ acceptance among the candidates.
The survey assessed how comfortable each candidate would feel in the following situations:
“Having a member of the LGBTQ community at your place of worship”
“Learning that a member of your family is LGBTQ”
“Learning that your doctor is LGBTQ”
“If your child has a lesson on LGBTQ history in school”
“Seeing an LGBTQ co-worker’s wedding picture”
“With your child being placed in a classroom with an LGBTQ teacher”
“Seeing a same-sex couple holding hands”
By assessing their answers, GLAAD rated the candidates as Allies, Detached Supporters or Resistors. Unfortunately many did not respond.
Allies: Expressed a somewhat or high level of comfortability with all of the above scenarios
Detached Supporters: Expressed mild or moderate discomfort with one or more of the above
Resistors: Expressed discomfort at all of the above scenarios
The goal of GLAAD’s new survey is to provide a resource for our community and our allies to help us make better, more informed decisions when choosing elected leaders. We can’t just assume that a candidate will advance LGBTQ equality and support legislation that benefits our community—not until we know what they truly think about us. It’s important to know before we head to the polls.
Check out the results of the survey here.
Know before you vote!
What Do You Think?