Homosexuality and bisexuality

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Public opinion polls about homosexuality

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Quotations:

	"The center is shifting because millions of 'Dick Cheneys,' people in the middle who might prefer not to think about the rights of gays and lesbians, one day see the issue indelibly stamped with the faces of their daughters, sons, neighbors and friends." Margorie Williams, 2000-OCT-13, Washington Post.
	"[homosexuals are] brute beasts...part of a vile and satanic system [that] will be utterly annihilated, and there will be a celebration in heaven." Jerry Falwell (1933-2007), 1984-MAR.
	"You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image, when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do." Anne Lamott

Overview:

There have been many instances in the past when various groups have been oppressed: (e.g. non-land owners denied the vote, African-Americans denied the right to marry, African-Americans enslaved, women denied the vote, inter-faith and inter-racial couples denied permission to marry, African-Americans suffering under racial segregation). Each group fought for for and has gradually achieved equal rights. It is reasonable to expect that gays and lesbians will follow the same path over the next generation.

A national poll of Year 2001 U.S. high school seniors indicates that they support  equal rights for gays and lesbians at a much higher level than their parents. North American opposition for equal rights for gays, lesbians and bisexuals seems to be more prevalent in the conservative wings of Christianity, Islam, Judaism and other religions.

Polls have encouraged some to ask for plebiscites on matters like same-sex marriage (SSM). Their thinking is that taking those special rights which have been traditionally reserved for heterosexuals and either extending them or denying them to homosexuals should be determined by a vote of the public. If 50% plus one person is in favor of equal rights for gays and lesbians, then they should enjoy them. Otherwise, not. This belief establishes a very dangerous precedent. If the state can deny any minority certain rights, then nobody is really safe. After all, every American is a member of at least one minority group.

The Pew Research Center conducted a public opinion poll between 2008-MAY-21 and 25. This was shortly after the Supreme Court of California issued a ruling legalizing SSM in the state. For the first time ever, Pew Research found that a minority of American adults (49%) opposed SSM. ₁

In late 2008, Jay McDonough published a fascinating graph on his "swimming freestyle" weblog titled: "Gay marriage will be legal by 2012." The graph is too tiny to read clearly. It shows the decline in opposition to SSM (in red), the rise in support for SSM (in blue) and the stagnation of the the number of "don't knows, from 1986 to 2006. The vertical axis runs from 0 to 100%. The horizontal line half-way up the graph is the 50% support level. ₂

Topics covered in this section:

	About public opinion and polling
	U.S. Polling results: About same-sex marriages About same-sex civil unions   Four questions: Can sexual orientation be changed? Is homosexual behavior moral or immoral? Is homosexual orientation due to genes, environment or both? Should gays and lesbians be protected in the work place?   Six more questions: Should gays and lesbians be protected by hate crime legislation? Should homosexual behavior be criminalized? General poll on homosexuality Beliefs of "class of 2001" high school seniors. ** Beliefs of university freshmen and women. ** Does the Bible condemn homosexuality?
	Canadian Polling results: About homosexuality generally   About same-sex marriage: 1996 to 2002; 2003; 2004; 2005 2006

** These topics are of particular interest, because they give insight into what the next generation believes.

Additional information:

	An essay on this web site about opinion polls on same-sex marriage
	The Gallup Organization has a detailed analysis of all of its recent homosexual-related polls. See: "POLL ANALYSES: American Attitudes Toward Homosexuality Continue to Become More Tolerant: New Gallup poll shows continuation of slow, but steady, liberalization of attitudes," 2001-JUN-4 at: http://www.gallup.com/poll/

References used:

1. "Gay Marriage Is Back On The Radar For Republicans, Evangelicals But Overall Opposition to Gay Marriage is Less Than in 2004," Pew Research Center, 2008-JUN-12, at: http://pewresearch.org/pubs/
2. Jay McDonough. "Gay marriage will be legal by 2012," Swimming Freestyle blog, at: http://www.swimmingfreestyle.net/

Copyright © 2001 to 2009 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally written: 2001-JUL-30
Latest update: 2009-FEB-08
Author: B.A. Robinson

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