For Conservatives, the Future Looks Dim... and Gay

[cbayer]

http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/candacechellew-hodge/7139/for_conservatives__the_future_looks_dim__and_gay/


June 7, 2013 2:50pm
Post by CANDACE CHELLEW-HODGE

It would appear that the only thing standing between equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans is a religious objection. But, according to a new poll from Pew Research, even those who object on religious grounds believe LGBT equality is inevitable.

According to the poll, 52% of those who continue to oppose equality for LGBT people cited "moral objections to homosexuality, that it conflicts with religious beliefs, or that it goes against the Bible." But those "moral objections" seem to be of less concern to a growing number of Americans:

Just under half of Americans (45%) say they think engaging in homosexual behavior is a sin, while an equal number says it is not. Those who believe homosexual behavior is a sin overwhelmingly oppose gay marriage. Similarly, those who say they personally feel there is a lot of conflict between their religious beliefs and homosexuality (35% of the public) are staunchly opposed to same-sex marriage.

The even split on the issue of whether homosexuality is a sin, interestingly, is actually an improvement over opinions ten years ago. In 2003, 55% of those polled believed it was sinful, so 12% more now believe it not to be sinful, which is an encouraging sign.

A less encouraging sign for who oppose equality for LGBT people is that 60% of those polled now believe homosexuality should be accepted rather than condemned, as compared to 31% ten years ago.

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