Rising support for LGBT rights in the US as 2016 polls loom

Despite issues being pushed by Republicans and the American religious right against the LGBT community, a recent survey indicates that more and more Americans are supportive of LGBT rights in the US.

The Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), which conducted the extensive survey, said this growing support for LGBT rights may even have a hand to play in the upcoming US presidential elections in November.

The PRRI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research group that conducts public opinion polls on a number of topics. For this survey, they looked into a number of issues being raised in the lead-up to the 2016 elections.

More support for LGBT rights in the US

According to the PRRI survey, “More than six in ten (62%) Americans say they favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally, compared to just three in ten (30%) who say they are opposed.”

This was higher than five years ago, when 47 percent said they support same-sex marriage as against an identical 47 percent who said they were opposed to the idea. In 2003, 32 percent were supportive while 59 percent were opposed.

Aside from being supportive of gay marriage and job protections, more Americans don’t like bathrooms bills that force transgenders to use bathrooms according to their sex at birth.

“A majority (53%) of Americans oppose laws that require transgender individuals to use bathrooms that correspond to their sex at birth rather than their current gender identity, compared to 35% who favor such laws,” the survey noted.

Meanwhile, the survey cited a two to one margin of not allowing small business owners to refuse products or services to LGBT people due to religious beliefs. This is somewhat unchanged from a 2015 survey.

Less fear of greater LGBT rights in the US

In the PRRI survey, it was noted that those candidates who favor opposition to same-sex marriage will be sailing against strong winds.

“A plurality (44%) of Americans say they would definitely not vote for a candidate who opposes same-sex marriage. Another 22% say they would consider voting for such a candidate, but with reservations. Only one in five (20%) Americans say they would definitely vote for such a candidate,” the survey revealed.

“What this poll shows is that even among Republicans, these issues are really losing their power as culture war wedge issues,” Robert P. Jones, CEO of PRRI.

“This poll proves what we know to be true. Americans believe that it’s long past time for LGBTQ people to live free from fear of discrimination and have protections under the law,” HRC spokesman Jay Brown said.

“Donald Trump, Mike Pence, Pat McCrory and other anti-equality politicians should take note. Their anti-LGBTQ platforms aren’t just wrong but a recipe for electoral disaster,” Brown added.

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