Americans don’t want anti-LGBT ‘religious freedom’ laws
The NFL and MBA will march in New York Pride this month (Getty)
The majority of Americans don’t want ‘religious freedoms’ over LGBT rights.
New research from the Public Religion Research Institute found more than 60 percent were against businesses turning customers away due to their religion – even if they themselves were religious.
In fact, the only faith group in support of such a move were white evangelical Protestants.
Muslims, Catholics and Mormons all came out as broadly against the policy, with Buddhists and Hindus most opposed.
Fifty eight percent of people were also in favour of same-sex marriage, with Universalists and Buddhist leading the way.
The poll comes just days after a draft executive order to introduce a similar bill was leaked by the White House.
Republicans have long been pushing for a policy to allow those with “deeply held religious beliefs” to refuse service to LGBT people.
During his campaign, Trump said he would sign such an Act, adding it would “protect the deeply held religious beliefs of Catholics and the beliefs of Americans of all faiths.”
However, the President later said he would keep protections put in place by Obama for LGBT workers.
In a statement, The White House, added: “President Trump continues to be respectful and supportive of L.G.B.T.Q. rights, just as he was throughout the election,” they continued.
“The president is proud to have been the first ever G.O.P. nominee to mention the L.G.B.T.Q. community in his nomination acceptance speech, pledging then to protect the community from violence and oppression.”
The move sparked anger from religious groups, saying it created ‘protected classes’ and ‘imposes the LGBTQ agenda on the country”.
