WASHINGTON, May 9 (UPI) -- Americans oppose laws requiring transgender people to use bathrooms that correspond with their gender at birth rather than their gender identity, according to a new CNN/ORC Poll released Monday.
Overall, 57 percent oppose laws, like the one passed in March in North Carolina, and 38 percent support them. Of those polled, 39 percent were strongly opposed to bathroom laws like North Carolina's and 25 percent strongly favor them.
The poll finds Republicans evenly split, with 48 percent in favor and 48 percent opposed. Among Democrats, 32 percent favor these laws and 62 percent are opposed.
The poll was conducted between April 28 and May 1, before the Justice Department advised North Carolina that its transgender law violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and gave the state a deadline of Monday to find a way to "remedy the situation." North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory on Sunday said the Department of Justice rejected a request for an extension to comply with the order.
A total of 75 percent of the respondents said they favor laws that guarantee equal protection for transgender people in jobs, housing and public accommodations.
Most Americans (85 percent) say they don't have a family member or close friend who is transgender. But about 6-in-10 say they have a close friend or family member who is gay or lesbian.
The poll was conducted with 1,001 adults and has a sampling error of 3 percentage points.
