Those who hold beliefs in “radical gender ideology” are more likely to “hold left-wing authoritarian beliefs and believe political violence is justified,” a new study from the Department of Health and Human Services found. The study surveyed 1,208 U.S. adults and concluded that those supporting “gender-affirming” positions were also associated with “higher levels of left-wing authoritarianism, including after accounting for political identity and age.”
Despite this link, the study “does not determine whether belief in radical gender ideology contributes to authoritarian attitudes or vice versa, nor whether an outside factor may contribute to both predispositions,” HHS said. It also did not measure if respondents have committed or intend to commit political violence.
According to the study, previous scientific literature suggests “a common mechanism: ideological content that names an oppressor class, certifies ongoing victimization, and locates remedy in coercive institutional or social action which may supply authoritarian psychology with morally justified targets.” It argues that gender ideology supplies left-wing authoritarianism (LWA) by specifying a perceived “source of harm,” framing non-affirmation as harmful, and reordering conventional family norms.
“This study raises important questions about what happens when ideology is given the authority of medicine,” HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Brian Christine said in a statement. “The association between sex-rejecting clinical beliefs, authoritarian attitudes, and the justification of political violence warrant serious scientific scrutiny. HHS will continue to pursue rigorous research that examines these relationships and gives the American people the evidence they deserve.”
The Trump administration has taken action to expose the consequences of radical gender ideology. In 2025, President Trump signed an order to preserve biological sex. “Efforts to eradicate the biological reality of sex fundamentally attack women by depriving them of their dignity, safety, and well-being. The erasure of sex in language and policy has a corrosive impact not just on women but on the validity of the entire American system,” the order read. “Basing Federal policy on truth is critical to scientific inquiry, public safety, morale, and trust in government itself.”
