A recent report from NORC at the University of Chicago and the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law sheds light on the prevailing sentiment of the American population concerning faith-based discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. The study, released on Thursday, comes at a crucial time when attacks on LGBTQ+ rights persist in state legislatures and as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to rule on a case involving businesses’ faith-based refusals to serve LGBTQ+ customers.
According to the study, an overwhelming 84% of respondents expressed opposition to medical professionals denying care to LGBTQ+ individuals based on religious beliefs. Similarly, 74% opposed denial of employment, and 71% opposed businesses refusing service on the same grounds. Notably, this opposition to discrimination was observed across genders, racial and ethnic identities, religions, and political affiliations. Women, people of color, and Democrats emerged as the most likely groups to object to faith-based discrimination.
The report revealed that even among religiously observant respondents, there was a majority opposing such discrimination. Of those who frequently attend religious services, 59% asserted that an employer’s religious beliefs should not justify denial of employment to LGBTQ+ individuals. The findings highlight that a significant majority of religiously affiliated individuals, including approximately two-thirds of Catholics and Protestants/Christians, opposed denying services, medical care, and employment to LGBTQ+ people.
Study author Christy Mallory, legal director at the Williams Institute, commented on the misalignment between recent efforts by some state legislatures to expand religious exemptions and the views of most Americans. “More than three in four Americans now favor civil rights laws protecting LGBTQ people against religiously motivated discrimination,” Mallory emphasized. The data underscore the widespread opposition to discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals, transcending political, religious, and racial and ethnic lines, as Michelle Johns, senior research scientist at NORC, pointed out.
The study conducted interviews with over 1,000 U.S. adults aged 18 and over across all 50 states and the District of Columbia in September of the previous year. However, a separate survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in March and April revealed contrasting results. This survey found that a majority of respondents believed businesses should have the right, in certain cases, to turn away LGBTQ+ customers based on the business owner’s religious beliefs. Notably, white evangelical Protestants and Republicans were more likely to support denial of services.
The Supreme Court case of 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis is of particular relevance to the ongoing debate. The case centers around a Colorado website designer, Lorie Smith, who seeks the right to refuse creating wedding websites for same-sex couples based on freedom of religion and freedom of speech claims. The Supreme Court heard the case in December and is expected to issue a ruling before the end of its session this month.
Furthermore, recent actions by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have also raised concerns. Critics argue that a recently signed bill in Florida could potentially allow medical professionals to reject patients based on their beliefs. Equality Florida has criticized the legislation, referring to it as a “right to discriminate” bill, drawing parallels to the infamous Religious Freedom Restoration Act signed in Indiana in 2015. Advocates emphasize the importance of ensuring access to medical care for all individuals and express concerns about the potential harm caused by granting broad religious or moral rights to health care providers and insurance companies.
In conclusion, the new study’s findings illustrate that a significant majority of U.S. adults oppose faith-based discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. The results indicate a widespread objection to denial of medical care, employment, and services based on religious beliefs, cutting across various demographics. As the debate on LGBTQ+ rights continues, the Supreme Court ruling and legislative actions in states like Florida will have a significant impact on the future landscape of equality and nondiscrimination protections for the LGBTQ+ community.