More Than Two-Thirds Oppose the Use of Puberty Blockers, Hormone Therapies for Minors

More than 68 percent of likely voting Oklahomans oppose allowing children under the age of 16 from using puberty blockers, hormone therapies or gender affirming surgeries, according to recent polling. An astounding 61.3 percent strongly opposed.

This comes on the heels of the passage of Senate Bill 613 earlier this year. Earlier this month, a group sued the state over the new law.

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[QUESTION] "Thinking about transgender issues like the use of puberty blockers, hormone therapies, and gender affirming surgeries for children under the age of 16. Supporters believe the decision should be between the child and their parents. Opponents believe children are not capable of making these life-altering decisions and such decisions are mere child abuse. Do you SUPPORT or OPPOSE the use of these for CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 16?"

1. Strongly support 12.0%
2. Somewhat support 11.0
3. COMBINED SUPPORT 23.0
4. Don't know 8.6
5. Somewhat oppose 7.0
6. Strongly oppose 61.3
7. COMBINED OPPOSE 68.3

While more than 90 percent of Republicans opposed their use among children, 52.8 percent of Democrats support their use among children. A plurality, 46.7 percent, of Independents supported them as well.

An incredible 97.3 percent of those who identify as very conservative strongly opposed their use, and 39.9 percent of moderates did as well. Combined support among moderates was 60 percent. Those who identify as very liberal, however, were on the opposite side of the issue with 52 percent strongly supporting their use among children. Combined support among "very liberals" was 80.6 percent.

Opposition was high in all of Oklahoma's five congressional districts except the 4th District where only a plurality, 45.6 percent, strongly opposed the use of puberty blockers, hormone therapies and gender affirming surgeries.

Both men and women strongly opposed their use among children, but men were slightly more than seven points more likely to strongly oppose, 65.4 to 58.1 percent.

More than half of those under the age of 35 strongly supported their use among children but strong support drops to just 3.6 percent among those over the age of 65.

‍About the Poll

SoonerPoll.com, Oklahoma’s public opinion pollster, asked these questions of Oklahoma likely voters.

The scientific study was conducted from June 1-4, 2023 with 302 likely Oklahoma voters selected at random statewide from SoonerPoll's proprietary online panel. The sample was weighted by education, age, and congressional district in order to reflect the Oklahoma likely voter population for a general election. The weighting was conducted using a 'layered technique.'

The sample reflects the traditional demographical profile of the Oklahoma likely voter with roughly half of respondents identifying as conservative and nearly a third identifying as Moderate. The study has a Margin of Error (MoE) of ±5.65 percent.

A complete description of the methodology can be found here.