Many had wondered if U.S. Senate leaders might use June’s LGBTQ focus to force a vote on the Equality Act (HR 5), passed by the U.S. House in February. A new survey shows an overwhelming majority of Americans oppose key provisions of the Equality Act, which could be one reason why the bill has stalled in the Senate.
The survey conducted June 16-17 by Rasmussen Reports and Summit.org found 82% of Americans said freedom of religion is important to maintain a healthy American society, with just 9% stating it’s not important. In addition, just 20% of Americans said they believe churches and faith-based charities should be required by law to hire people who oppose their religious beliefs. The Equality Act would disallow conscientious objections due to religious beliefs to be used in the hiring of gay, lesbian, and transexual individuals by Christian business owners or religious organizations and churches.
Jeff Myers of Summit Ministries, a Colorado-based Christian training organization for young people, was encouraged by their survey’s findings. He believes it shows the “American people overwhelmingly support the continued protection of the Constitutional right of freedom of religion.” Myers noted the study found bi-partisan support for “not requiring by law that churches and faith-based charities to hire people who oppose their religious beliefs.”
According to the survey:
- 60% of Republican voters say churches and faith-based charities should not be required by law to hire people who oppose their religious beliefs, 14% say they should be legally required.
- 54% of Independent voters say churches and faith-based charities should not be required by law to hire people who oppose their religious beliefs, 16% say they should be legally required.
- 37% of Democrat voters say churches and faith-based charities should not be required by law to hire people who oppose their religious beliefs, 28% say they should be legally required.
Any consensus between the two parties at this point in time is rare. “In an era of hyper-partisanship, freedom of religion retains broad, bi-partisan support among Democrats, Republicans, and Independents,” Myers concluded.