Q poll: Voters split on transgender bathrooms

Transgender actress Shakina Nayfack washes her hands after using the men's restroom on the third floor of the Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C., on Friday, June 17, 2016. The actress, from New York, was performing shows in North Carolina this weekend and wanted to see where HB2 was created. She was following the law by using the men's facilities. A Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday, June 23, 2016 found voters are about evenly divided on whether transgender people should be allowed to use public bathrooms of their choice, but they oppose - by large margins - forcing public schools to extend these rights. less Transgender actress Shakina Nayfack washes her hands after using the men's restroom on the third floor of the Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C., on Friday, June 17, 2016. The actress, from New York, was ... more Photo: Chuck Liddy / TNS Photo: Chuck Liddy / TNS Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Q poll: Voters split on transgender bathrooms 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

Should transgender people be allowed to use public bathrooms consistent with their gender identity?

And should the federal government order public schools to let transgender students use the bathroom of the gender with which they identify?

Voters are divided over these issues, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday in the key swing states of Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Those states were selected because since 1960, no candidate has won the presidential race without taking at least two of these three states.

Voters in thoses states are about evenly divided on whether transgender people should be allowed to use public bathrooms of their choice, but they oppose - by large margins - forcing public schools to extend these rights, according to the poll.

In Florida, 48 percent of voters say transgender people should have the right to use public bathrooms consistent with their gender identity, while 44 percent say they should not be allowed. Voters oppose 54 - 37 percent, however, requiring public schools to allow transgender people to use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity.

In Ohio, 48 percent of voters say transgender people should not be allowed to choose a bathroom, while 43 percent support that right. Voters oppose a bathroom mandate on public schools 55 - 36 percent.

In Pennsylvania, voters support the transgender right to choose a bathroom 49 - 43 percent. But they oppose a mandate on public schools 53 - 39 percent.

“The issue of transgender people and the use of public bathrooms finds voters split on exactly what should be done,” Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, said in a release announcing the results.

“Voters in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania oppose the federal government order to public schools that they must let transgender students use the bathroom of the gender with which they identify. But they are split roughly evenly on whether these students should be able to use whatever bathroom they choose,” Brown added.

Zika virus questions

Voters in each state are concerned about the Zika virus, and only a slim majority in each state believes the U.S. Olympic team should compete in Brazil this summer, the poll found.

“Eight in 10 voters in these states are aware of the Zika virus, and many are concerned enough about it to worry that they or someone they know might catch it. They are split on the question of whether the U.S. government is doing enough to protect Americans from Zika,” Brown said.

“Perhaps most eye-catching: Only slightly more than half think the U.S. Olympic team should participate in the summer Olympics held this summer in Brazil, considered an epicenter of the virus.”