Attitudes on Local and National Discrimination Among LGBT, Hispanic, and Black Americans

Perceptions of Discrimination in Society

In 2016, most Americans agree that a number of social groups are experiencing substantial discrimination in society.

No group is perceived as facing greater discrimination than transgender people. More than seven in ten Americans say that transgender people experience at least some discrimination in society, including nearly half (45%) who say this group faces “a lot” of discrimination and about one-quarter (27%) who say “some.” Roughly one-quarter say transgender people face only a little (15%) or no discrimination at all (8%).

About seven in ten Americans say that gay and lesbian people face a lot (35%) or only some (34%) degree of discrimination in society. Similar numbers of Americans say that immigrants are facing at least some amount of discrimination in society, including 35% who say a lot and 35% who say some.

The public is less likely to believe Hispanic Americans face substantial discrimination in society. Roughly six in ten Americans believe that Hispanics experience a lot (24%) or some (38%) discrimination in society. Over one in five (22%) say that they face only a little, while more than one in ten (13%) say that Hispanics face no discrimination at all.

Who Perceives Discrimination?

The extent to which Americans believe that minority groups face discrimination in the U.S. varies considerably across racial, class, and partisan boundaries.

No racial or ethnic group is more likely to report that members of minority groups face discrimination than black Americans. Roughly eight in ten black Americans say that transgender people (84%), Hispanics (79%), gay and lesbian people (78%), and immigrants (77%) face at least some discrimination. While Hispanic Americans are not more likely than Americans overall to say Hispanics experience discrimination in society (63% vs. 62%, respectively), they are more likely to say Hispanics face “a lot” of discrimination (36% vs. 24%, respectively). Hispanic Americans are only modestly more likely than the general public to say immigrants experience at least some discrimination in the U.S. (77% vs. 70%, respectively), but half of Hispanics (50%)—compared to only about one-third (35%) of Americans overall—say that immigrants face a lot of discrimination.

In contrast, white Americans are generally less likely than black and Hispanic Americans to perceive discrimination against all types of minority groups. However, there are pronounced educational differences among whites. More than three-quarters of whites with a college degree say that transgender people (79%) and gay and lesbian people (76%) face at least some degree of discrimination. In contrast, only about six in ten whites with a high school diploma or less say transgender people (62%) and gay and lesbian people (60%) experience discrimination in the U.S. There is a similar divide in views of immigrants. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of whites with a four-year college degree, compared to fewer than six in ten (59%) whites with no college education, say that immigrants face at least some discrimination. Similarly, close to two-thirds (64%) of white college-educated Americans say Hispanics contend with at least some discrimination in society, compared to 53% of whites with a high school education or less.

There are striking political divides on these questions. Roughly eight in ten Democrats say that transgender people (81%), immigrants (79%), and gay and lesbian people (78%) face at least some discrimination. More than seven in ten (72%) say the same about Hispanics. In contrast, Republicans are much less likely to agree. Fewer than two-thirds of Republicans believe that transgender people and gay and lesbian people (66% each) face at least some discrimination. Approximately six in ten (62%) say the same about immigrants, as do a small majority (53%) about Hispanics. Political independents’ attitudes mirror those of Americans overall.

Young Americans (age 18-29) report more societal discrimination against minority groups than seniors (age 65 and older). More than seven in ten young adults say that transgender people (78%), immigrants (75%), gay and lesbian people (74%), and Hispanics (71%) face at least some discrimination. In contrast, fewer than two-thirds of seniors say transgender people (66%), immigrants (62%), and gay and lesbian people (64%) experience at least some degree of discrimination in the U.S. Even fewer seniors—although still a majority (54%)—say that Hispanics face at least some discrimination.

Women consistently report that there is more discrimination against minority groups than men. Roughly three-quarters of women say that transgender people (77%), immigrants (74%), and gay and lesbian people (74%) face at least some discrimination, while fewer than two-thirds of men say transgender people (65%), immigrants (64%), and gay and lesbian people (62%) are experiencing discrimination in the U.S. Similarly, while about two-thirds (66%) of women say that Hispanics face at least some discrimination today, fewer than six in men (57%) men agree.

Discrimination in U.S. Society vs. Discrimination in My State

Americans are much less likely to say that discrimination occurs in their own state than in U.S. society as a whole.

While approximately seven in ten Americans say that transgender people (72%) face at least some discrimination in the country today, fewer than half (47%) say transgender people experience discrimination in their own state. Similarly, nearly seven in ten (69%) Americans say gay and lesbian people face at least some amount of discrimination in the U.S. but only about four in ten (43%) say that gay and lesbian people experience discrimination in their state.

There is a similar perception gap in views about immigrants and Hispanics. Seven in ten (70%) Americans believe immigrants face at least some discrimination in society at large, but only slightly more than half (52%) believe immigrants are experiencing discrimination in their own state. Similarly, more than six in ten (62%) Americans say Hispanics confront at least some degree of discrimination in America while fewer than half (44%) say there is at least some discrimination against Hispanics in their state.