Americans Say Homosexuality a Civil Rights Issue

Religion Today | Updated: Apr 04, 2013

Americans Say Homosexuality a Civil Rights Issue

As public policy continues to change on the issue, a new LifeWay Research poll shows 58 percent of American adults believe homosexuality is a human rights issue and 64 percent say it is inevitable same-sex marriage will become legal throughout the United States, Baptist Press reports. Twenty-nine percent say it is not a civil rights issue and 24 percent say gay marriage legalization is not inevitable. The survey also found that 63 percent agree and 27 percent disagree that pastors should be allowed to refuse to officiate same-sex weddings if they are made legal in their state; 58 percent agree and 33 percent disagree that photographers should be allowed to refuse to work same-sex weddings; 40 percent agree and 52 percent disagree that rental halls should be allowed to refuse to rent out their facilities for same-sex weddings; 27 percent agree and 67 percent disagree that landlords should be allowed to refuse to rent housing to same-sex couples; and 14 percent agree and 82 percent disagree that employers should be allowed to refuse employment to someone based on their sexual preference. "While a majority of Americans categorize homosexuality as a civil rights issue like age, race and gender, and almost two-thirds think legalization of same-sex marriage in the U.S. is inevitable, the research does show lines and divisions on these issues clearly exist in our country," said Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research. 



Americans Say Homosexuality a Civil Rights Issue