GLAAD is releasing the results of a new poll showing registered voters’ top concern remains rising costs and inflation. Voters overwhelmingly believe politicians are using transgender issues to distract from these urgent priorities.

U.S. adults were also asked about corporate support of Pride through sponsorships, employee engagement, and merchandise.

The results are abundantly clear: Americans, including registered voters, support LGBTQ people, support politicians who support LGBTQ people, and back brands that support LGBTQ people including at Pride and beyond.

Registered Voters Care Most About Costs, and Freedom

The poll, conducted by MRI-Simmons between March 16 and April 2, 2026, reveals:

• 44% of registered voters say “Increasing Costs or Inflation” is their number one concern

• 74% of registered voters are more likely to support a midterm candidate who says “we all deserve the freedom to live our lives without fear of discrimination.”

• 70% of registered voters are more likely to support a midterm candidate who says: “We should focus more on lowering the cost of living and creating jobs, than on issues about transgender people, like restricting government IDs or healthcare for transgender people.”

• 65% of registered voters believe politicians are often using transgender issues as a distraction from more important priorities.

• Only 8% of registered voters say: “Transgender issues are a top concern.”

Poll graphics available for download here.

U.S. Adults Support Brands Who Support Pride

Regarding corporate support for Pride including events, merchandise, and inclusive ad campaigns, the poll of U.S. adults found:

• 68% agree brands/companies should be able to show support to the LGBTQ community during Pride if they want to.

• 62% are comfortable with brands allowing employees to march in Pride parades.

• 61% believe public corporate support of the LGBTQ community has a positive impact on the acceptance of LGBTQ people.

• 76% are more likely to trust a brand that sticks to its values and stands up for what is right, even if it is controversial. 

• 73% feel CEOs have a responsibility to speak up about issues that matter to their consumers and shareholders.

“These results confirm what most Americans already believe: we are at our best when we treat our friends, family, and neighbors with basic dignity and respect,” GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said.

“Voters are tired of divisive culture wars that distract from the real issues keeping families up at night like the skyrocketing costs of housing, fuel, healthcare, and groceries,” Ellis continued.

“True leadership means focusing on economic prosperity and fairness for everyone. This Pride season, let’s recommit to the core values of freedom and community, and call on elected leaders and companies to focus on the practical solutions that actually move our country forward.”

The Power of LGBTQ Acceptance and Representation

LGBTQ people and allies make up a growing and influential market of consumers and employees. According to GALLUP’s latest survey, about 1 in 4 Gen Z adults (23%) are out as LGBTQ. Purchasing power of LGBTQ consumers was estimated to be $1.4 trillion as of 2022.

Voters rejected anti-trans campaigning in every high profile election of 2025 and 2026, including in Virginia, electing a governor who supports transgender people by 15 points; in New Jersey, electing a governor who supports transgender people by 12 points, as well as state Supreme Court justices in Wisconsin, and the mayor of Omaha, Nebraska.

Research shows that voters were not motivated by the unprecedented $215 million spent on anti-trans campaign ads in the 2024 election, though the ads did negatively impact acceptance of transgender people.

GLAAD’s ALERT Desk (Anti-LGBTQ Extremism Reporting Tracker) documented more than 1,000 incidents in 2025, with 52% of incidents targeting transgender and gender nonconforming people.

Methodology 

The findings are from a short poll GLAAD ran in partnership with MRI-Simmons, conducted between March 16 and April 2, 2026. 5,010 nationally representative U.S. adults were surveyed online. The results were weighted and fused with the MRI-Simmons USA Study of 52,323 U.S. adults. MRI-Simmons USA Study uses a national probability sample of all 50 states. From the USA Study, the unweighted sample for all registered voters is 33,985.

All percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number. The margin of error is +/- 1% for the whole sample of adults. The margin of error for sub-samples is larger. Not all percentages may add up to 100% due to rounding.