Poll: Transgender People Face Worse Treatment in the UK Than in Turkey and South Africa

The “LGBT+ Pride 2026” report by polling company Ipsos reveals that while the acceptance of LGBT people has stabilized in most countries, support for transgender people is declining.

The study surveyed over 19,000 individuals across 26 countries. According to Ipsos , support for the LGBT community peaked in 2021, and people have since become more conservative on certain issues. This is particularly evident regarding the participation of trans women in female sports: while 32% supported this idea in 2021, the number dropped to 22% in 2026.

Globally, 65% of respondents agree that trans people face discrimination, yet only 47% are willing to allow them to use restrooms that align with their gender identity.

The United Kingdom showed a low level of support for trans people compared to other nations. Only 30% of Britons are willing to let trans people use restrooms matching their gender, while 53% are strongly opposed. By comparison, in Turkey, 44% of respondents are against it. Furthermore, 51% of Britons oppose the introduction of a third gender marker on passports, compared to 41% in Turkey.

Thailand emerged as the most inclusive country for trans people, being the only nation where support for trans athletes (44%) exceeds opposition (26%). In South Africa, the only African country included in the study, opinions were split evenly at 38% in favor and 38% opposed. In most countries across Europe and the Americas, as well as in Australia and South Korea, opposition to trans people participating in sports prevails.

Support for same-sex marriage generally remains high, with an average of 53% of respondents supporting marriage and 13% supporting civil partnerships. However, in Turkey and Singapore, the majority oppose marriage equality. At the same time, in countries like Hungary and Poland, there is stronger support for legalizing unions: in Poland, 33% support marriage and 30% support partnerships, while in Hungary, the figures are 41% and 18%, respectively.