Views of transgender issues divide along religious lines
Most Christians in America say that whether someone is a man or a woman is determined by their sex at birth. Yet, many religious “nones” have different views.
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Most Christians in America say that whether someone is a man or a woman is determined by their sex at birth. Yet, many religious “nones” have different views.
Our new survey focusing on contraception, same-sex marriage and transgender rights finds the public closely divided over some – though not all – of these issues.
In the last two decades, several religious groups have moved to allow same-sex couples to marry within their traditions.
Acceptance of homosexuality is rising across the broad spectrum of American Christianity, including among members of churches that strongly oppose homosexual relationships as sinful.
On a variety of issues – such as recognizing gay marriages and determining eligibility for Holy Communion – Latino Catholics tend to be more aligned with the church than are white Catholics.
Some legal scholars and others are trying to determine how a ruling granting same-sex couples a constitutional right to wed might affect religious institutions.
A majority of LGB adults are religiously affiliated, but they are much less likely to be Christian than the general public and are more drawn to smaller, non-Christian denominations.
Opposition to same-sex marriage is now more concentrated among a few religious groups – particularly white evangelical Protestants.
New Pew Research Center data from 2014 show that just within the past year, growing shares of some Christian groups favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry.
The bill would allow business owners to cite religious beliefs as a reason for denying services – including to same-sex couples – without fear of legal retribution.
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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan, nonadvocacy fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It does not take policy positions. The Center conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, computational social science research and other data-driven research. Pew Research Center is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, its primary funder.
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