Gay & Lesbian Issues

Catholics’ Perspectives on Transgender Issues

[01.31.2013]

A former teacher at a Catholic school is suing, saying that he was dismissed based on his transgender identity. Catholics are, overall, supportive of legal protections for transgender people.

The GOP’s Marriage Problem

[11.16.2012]

In the aftermath of Mitt Romney’s loss to Barack Obama, analysts have noted that the Republican nominee lost in large measure due to changing American demographics—particularly the rise of the Latino vote, non-white Christians, and the religiously unaffiliated. But another demographic trend also threatens to hurt Republican chances in the future: the decline of marriage.

Joining the Party: On Abortion and Same-sex Marriage, Hispanic American Partisans Are as Polarized as the Public

[08.21.2012]

How socially conservative are Hispanic Americans, how persuadable are Hispanic Americans on social issues, and how important are these issues to Hispanic American voters?

Chick-fil-A Buzz Illustrates Centrality of Same-sex Marriage Debate

[07.25.2012]

In light of the recent controversy surrounding Chick-fil-A’s stance on same-sex marriage, how does the American public feel about this public policy issue? Recent surveys show a religious divide.

Our Corner | Mainline Protestant Church Decisions on LGBT Issues Highlight Growing Generational Gaps

[07.16.2012]

The Episcopal Church’s recent decision to sanction transgender ordination and blessings for same-sex couples, as well as the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s narrow vote against amending its definition of marriage to include same-sex couples, raises new questions about mainline Protestant denominations’ perspectives on gay and lesbian issues. At the Huffington Post, I explore the generational divides that emerge among white mainline Protestants on issues like same-sex marriage: The generational divides in… more

Religious Americans’ Perspectives on Same-sex Marriage

[06.30.2012]

As PRRI observed in a research note earlier this year, in 2011, majorities of most religious groups favored allowing gay and lesbian couple to marry legally, illustrating that the old narrative of battle lines between secular supporters and religious opponents no longer serves as an accurate characterization of the landscape of the same-sex marriage debate. Support is strongest among Jews (76%), the unaffiliated (72%), and non-Christian religiously affiliated Americans (63%), a group… more

The Obama Effect?: Black Americans’ Views on Same-sex Marriage

[05.21.2012]

Less than two weeks after President Obama announced that he supports same-sex marriage, the NAACP’s board released a resolution supporting same-sex marriage. Like Obama’s endorsement, the NAACP’s decision was a largely symbolic move that could, nevertheless, have an impact on the black community’s views on the issue. In a statement, Roslyn M. Brock, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NAACP explained, “The mission of the NAACP has… more

Evolution of American Opinion on Same-sex Marriage

[05.09.2012]

There are religious groups on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate.

Black Americans and Same-Sex Marriage

[05.04.2012]

Next Tuesday, voters in North Carolina will head to the polls to vote on a ballot initiative that would enshrine marriage as a union between a man and a woman in the state constitution. Interestingly, according to the Washington Post, while polls show that primary voters are likely to approve the measure by a substantial 14-point margin (55% to 41%), opposition numbers among black voters, who tend to be less… more

Beyond Secular vs. Religious: Religious Divides in Support for Same-sex Marriage

[01.27.2012]

Five religious groups favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally, compared to three groups who are opposed.