Photo by GLAAD

Earlier this year, GLAAD announced its inaugural ‘Electing Acceptance’ candidate survey which would assess the degree to which candidates running for U.S. House and U.S. Senate seats as well as Governor and Lieutenant Governor in the 2018 midterm election are accepting of LGBTQ people. ‘Electing Acceptance’ is the first candidate survey in the organization’s 30+ year history and the only national candidate survey dedicated to LGBTQ acceptance.

The results went live on NBCNews.com today. You can see how candidates in your state responded here. 

351 candidates responded with 99% of Democratic candidates qualifying as ‘allies.’ Only 32 Republican candidates responded.

The quesitons in the survey mirrored GLAAD’s and The Harris Poll’s annual Accelerating Acceptance report, which measures acceptance of LGBTQ people throughout the United States. GLAAD asked candidates how comfortable they are: 

• “Having a member of the LGBTQ community at your place of worship”
• “Learning that a member of your family is LGBTQ”
• “Learning that your doctor is LGBTQ”
• “If your child has a lesson on LGBTQ history in school”
• “Seeing an LGBTQ co-worker’s wedding picture”
• “With your child being placed in a classroom with an LGBTQ teacher”
• “Seeing a same-sex couple holding hands”

“Americans deserve to know if the candidates they are putting in positions to make important decisions about their lives, their families, and their communities match their own levels of comfort and acceptance when it comes to LGBTQ people,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President & CEO. “Acceptance should never be a partisan issue, but the paltry response from Republican candidates is unfortunate and the latest sign that creating an America where LGBTQ Americans are accepted is not a priority for their party. These results, coupled with the Department of Health and Human Services’ planned attack on transgender Americans, is a wakeup call for LGBTQ people allies to get out and vote on November 6.” 

99% of the 240 Democrats who responded are categorized as ‘allies,’ meaning that they responded they are ‘comfortable’ across all seven scenarios. This includes Georgia Governonr candidate, Stacey Abrams; Texas Senate candidate, Beto O’Rourke; Nevada Senate candidate, Jacky Rosen, and congressional candidates, Katie Hill (CA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY), Donna Shalala (FL), and Jennifer Wexton (VA).

In contrast, only 55% of the 32 Republicans who responded are categorized as allies. Only four incumbent Repbulican elected officials responded which were U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo (FL-26), U.S. Rep. Donald Young (AK-At Large), U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-8), and Vermont Governor Phil Scott. 40% of the 31 Republicans who responded are categorized as ‘detached supporters’ who report various levels of comfort around LGBTQ people across the seven scenarios. Notably, almost all reported discomfort when asked about their children having a lesson on LGBTQ history in school.

To see the full list of candidates polled, go to www.glaad.org/electingacceptance

GLAAD is working to ensure the largest turnout of LGBTQ and ally voters in the history of American midterm elections. Earlier this year, the organization launched the Amp Your Voice campaign and online action center, where users are encouraged to register to vote, take action on state and federal legislation, contact elected officials, and participate in other GLAAD actions to inspire LGBTQ Americans and allies to vote in the midterm elections.