New poll shows growing acceptance of LGBT+ from religious communities

A new report from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) surveyed more than 40,000 Americans from all 50 states on religious attitudes towards the LGBT+ community. Off all the religious groups it found that Mormons had the largest divide between people supporting same-sex marriage and supporting anti-discrimination laws for LGBT+ people. Only 40 percent of Mormons support marriage equality while 70 percent of them believe LGBT+ Americans should be protected from discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations.

In comparison: 54 percent of White Evangelicals support anti-discrimination laws, while only 34 percent support marriage equality. Jewish people were the most supportive on both issues: 77 percent support same-sex marriage, while 80 percent support anti-discrimination laws.

Only 13 percent of Jehovah’s Witnesses and 51 percent of Muslims support same-sex marriage.

Support is growing, however. With opposition to same-sex marriage declining in Mormons from 68 percent in 2013 to 53 percent in 2017. This is shown generationally as well: 52 percent of Mormons aged 18 to 29 support marriage equality compared to just 32 percent of those aged 65 and older.

PRRI research director Dan Cox said the results are promising: “At a time when Americans are more divided than ever, the sea change in support for LGBT rights that now crosses lines of race, ethnicity, religion and geography means that LGBT rights are becoming one of the few areas of public agreement.”

Read more about the results here

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