In New Poll, Marriage Equality Beats Religious Objections

First Amendment Center ^ | 6/24/14 | Charles C. Haynes

[koanhead]

A solid majority of Americans now support equal treatment for same-sex couples despite religious objections, according to the State of the First Amendment survey released this week by the First Amendment Center.

Sixty-one percent of respondents agree that the government should require religiously affiliated groups that receive government funding to provide health-care benefits to same-sex partners of employees – even when the religious group opposes same-sex marriage.

And 54% of the public agree that a business providing wedding services to the public should be required to serve same-sex couples, even if the business owner objects to gay marriage on religious grounds.

These findings are consistent with the dramatic rise in public support for gay marriage – 59% in a recent ABC News/Washington Post survey (75% among those under 30).

What’s somewhat surprising, however, is the strength of that support in the face of religious objections. When the first legal same-sex marriage was performed in Massachusetts 10 years ago, conservative religious groups were able to mobilize voters to approve laws and constitutional amendments in many states – including deep-blue California – banning gay marriage.

Now the tide has turned – not only in the courts (bans on same-sex marriage in Indiana and Utah were struck down just this week), but also in the court of public opinion.

While gay marriage remains unpopular in some red states, many conservative politicians and religious leaders have toned down the rhetoric as the public continues to migrate toward support for marriage equality.

Early in the debate, religious objectors to same-sex marriage appeared to enjoy broad public support for their efforts to secure religious exceptions to laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. That may no longer be the case....

[aimhigh]

Consider the source. I wouldn’t trust any numbers coming out of the First Amendment Center.

[grobdriver]

Heh.
Sounds like you've got it all planned out.

Me, I'm only interested in hot babes.

[MeshugeMikey]

The appropriation of the words Equal and Equality by the forces of un-reason and evil is a done deal.

How this can be undone...is at the moment beyond me.

[afsnco]

Morality ain’t determined by majority vote. It’s determined by God. Those who call Him a liar do so at their dire peril.

[nathanbedford]

This poll represents a departure from the ruling in the Hobby Lobby case and crosses the line by compelling individuals or entities to render services which are counter to their deeply held religious views. This poll shows a majority both for those entities which take federal government money and for private businesses, such as Hobby Lobby.

This of course is the extension of homosexual rights into an area which infringes the First Amendment rights of free exercise and free association of others and serves as reinforcement to those who fear that homosexual rights to marry are merely the first skirmishes in a war on religion.

[Missouri gal]

That “solid” majority will start melting as the consequences become more clear. Not to mention it’s probably a bogus poll to start with.

[WriteOn]

Too stupid to know they are stupid.

[Mach9]

Thank a teacher. Value-free “education” seems to be paying off.