DFP’s newsletter of our latest polls, memos, and memes.
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New Survey of LGBTQ+ Adults Ahead of Trans Day of Visibility
Over the last several years, Republican lawmakers have advanced a record number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills in state legislatures all across the country, most of which specifically target trans people — targeting access to health care and bathrooms, the ability to play sports and change legal documents, and the discussion of LGBTQ+ topics in classrooms.
Ahead of Trans Day of Visibility on Sunday, we conducted a survey ([link removed]) of over 873 LGBTQ+ adults, with an oversample of transgender adults, to see how these bills are impacting their lives. The results are alarming — and show the devastating threat that these hate campaigns pose:
* 70% of LGBTQ+ adults, including 85% of transgender adults, agree that LGBTQ+ Americans are facing a national state of emergency.
* 79% of transgender adults and 65% of LGBTQ+ adults ages 18 to 24 say that recent anti-LGBTQ+ policies and rhetoric have negatively impacted their mental health.
* 65% of transgender adults say quality of life has gotten worse for LGBTQ+ Americans in the past year.
* 44% of transgender adults say that they have considered moving or already moved out of their community or state as a result of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
More than 60% of transgender adults say they are concerned the following actions would result in discrimination or harassment: going to a new health care provider to receive care (73%), using a public bathroom (68%), going to non-LGBTQ+ bars or nightclubs (64%), and engaging in public displays of affection with their significant other (62%).
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Still, in the face of efforts to restrict their rights, transgender people are finding joy in community — 70% say they feel a sense of gender euphoria when in “community with friends and chosen family.” In the words of one trans adult, that means “Living my life on my terms proudly and unapologetically so that the younger queer generation feels empowered to do the same.”
Read the full poll here ([link removed]) .
Here are some other highlights from DFP this week:
Biden should take Advantage of this opportunity to reclaim Medicare
Ladies, there are two groups of people who you should never let take advantage of you — men and CEOs of big health insurance companies.
Medicare Advantage is an alternative to traditional Medicare in which private health insurance companies cover Medicare benefits. True to its gaslight-y name, it costs the Medicare program more per enrollee than traditional Medicare. Experts say that Medicare Advantage costs at least $88 billion more than traditional Medicare, eroding the Medicare trust fund and weakening the Medicare program (never trust a private health insurance company, y’all).
With our friends at Social Security Works, we asked voters ([link removed]) about rules the Biden administration has implemented to reduce wrongful delays and denials of care under Medicare Advantage. And we weren’t surprised to find that they’re popular with voters across party lines.
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For years, insurance companies have been regularly claiming ([link removed]) that their enrollees are sicker than they actually are to gain extra funding from Medicare Advantage. Our government could aggressively collect the hundreds of billions in Medicare Advantage overpayments and use that money to strengthen traditional Medicare, a move which 75% of likely voters would support.
Private insurance companies don’t care about us. It’s time to hold them accountable for taking advantage of their customers and reinvest in the one who’s always been there for us — traditional Medicare.
Read the full piece on DFP Insights here ([link removed]) .
No utility in these energy junk fees
Utility companies, snack food brands, airlines, Ticketmaster — if you’re a corporation in America, there’s nothing you love more than making Americans pay random junk fees.
Utility rates have been climbing in recent years, despite energy consumption declining. One contributor? Utility industry lobbying and additional fees tacked onto monthly statements. In addition to charging for monthly energy usage, utility companies also charge customers fees for late bill payments or reconnection to the power supply after nonpayment. Like a lot of things in our cursed economic system, this practice disproportionately hurts low-income Americans.
Our polling ([link removed]) finds that 61% of voters support banning these fees, and 75% support banning these charges when they’re described as junk fees.
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If that wasn’t bad enough, it turns out that utility companies are also using ratepayer funds for political activities — like lobbying, advertising, and paying dues to trade associations. Look, we support more people getting engaged in our politics, but that does NOT include private corporations. Nearly three-quarters of voters support lawmakers adopting a policy to prevent the use of ratepayer dollars for this purpose.
Read the full poll here ([link removed]) .
DFP In The News
The Daily Beast: LGBTQ Americans Say They Are Facing ‘National State of Emergency’: Survey ([link removed])
The Advocate: Republican anti-LGBTQ+ legislation bad for mental health and quality of life: survey ([link removed])
The Hill: Biden’s progressive voter strategy must include a Gaza cease-fire ([link removed])
E&E News by Politico: Biden budget request triggers GOP assault on climate corps ([link removed])
Newsweek: Bernie Sanders Changing an 84-Year Trend Gets Support From Republicans ([link removed])
Los Angeles Blade: 24% of trans adults say access to care disrupted by new laws ([link removed])
Ms. Magazine: Feminists React to the SCOTUS Abortion Pill Case: ‘Access to Mifepristone Is Essential’ ([link removed])
Slate: Well, This Was a Choice ([link removed])
On Social
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Meme of the Week
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