By Will Stevenson/Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – A national survey conducted by the University of Illinois-Springfield shows positive attitudes towards the rights of transgendered people. But, it’s somewhat of a mixed bag.

The survey conducted online of 774 people shows 81 percent supportive of those who are transgendered having the same rights as the rest of us; but — among other areas — only 41 percent support using public funds to help provide medical treatment for them.

“I think there’s still a lot of lack of information about needs of the transgendered community in terms of politics, policy, and law,” said Jason Pierceson, UIS Associate Professor of Political Science. ”

In other words, Pierceson said the more education there is, the more hearts and minds will be changed.

“There’s not a lot of information about a lot of these policies and issues out there yet,” says Pierceson. “You don’t want to give people too much information that will prime their response [to the survey], or load their response.

And, Pierceson believes your mind is likely to be swayed if you know someone personally who is transgendered.

SURVEY: https://transgenderinclusivepolicysurvey.wordpress.com/