Support rises for religious Americans’ right not to participate in same-sex events

Aug 6, 2018 by Jill

by Calvin Freiberger, LifeSite:

Public opinion on whether business owners should be forced to participate in same-sex “weddings” has shifted significantly over the past year, a new survey reveals.

Forty six percent of Americans believe business owners such as bakers, florists, caterers, invitation designers, photographers, and venue hosts should be allowed to refuse service and 48 percent do not, according to a newly-released survey by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). In August 2017, just 41 percent sided with business owners and 53 percent favored coercion.

While white Americans’ views on the subject remain largely unchanged, support for conscience rights rose most sharply among black Americans, 45 percent of whom answered that businesses should be allowed to refuse service (up from 36 percent last year). Only a minority of Hispanics agree, but there too the share rose from 26 percent to 34 percent.

Republican support for the right to refuse rose by six points, while Democrat opinions remained relatively constant. More men (52 percent) than women (40 percent) support business owners, as well.

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