Christians Divided on Marriage Equality

Last updated on: January 26, 2016 at 2:54 pm by Libby Anne

Christians Divided on Marriage Equality 2016-01-26T14:54:02-04:00 Libby Anne

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This evening I went to a marriage equality rally outside of my town’s courthouse. The first speaker was the pastor of one of a local Christian church. She started her address by saying that she wants to challenge the common conception that being Christian meant being anti-gay. She talked about her church’s history as an LGBTQ-friendly congregation. She talked about how nervous LGBTQ individuals often feel when first attending a service at her church, looking around, fearful of condemnation before finally being able to relax.

Then I came upon this graphic on facebook. It lays out support for—an opposition to—marriage equality by religious group in the United States. The numbers used are from 2011.

Note that the only religious groups whose adherents are more likely to oppose marriage equality than support it are black Protestants, Mormons, and white evangelicals. More Catholics and mainline Protestants support marriage equality than don’t, and Jews are more likely to support marriage equality than are those who are unaffiliated. And for that matter, a full 20 percent of evangelicals themselves strongly support marriage equality.

Evangelicals are very good at controlling the conversation and framing the questions. The paint a world in which atheists simply hate God and a world in which marriage equality is something being forced on on unwilling and victimized Christians. Neither is true. I personally think it’s important to counter these mistaken narratives. Why? Well for one thing, because evangelicals stand to benefit if they can convince people that the push for marriage equality is a war “the homosexual agenda” is waging on Christianity. But if it’s clear that there is actually disagreement within Christianity—that there are Christians who fully support LGBTQ rights and believe that marriage equality is God’s will—well, that changes the story an destroys the evangelical narrative.

I also think we need to remember that marriage equality is not the only LGBTQ rights issue. I think it became the centerpiece in the discussion in part because it is such an emotional appealing issue—who can be against love?—but I think we need to remember that it’s not the only battle out there. There are also basic things like access to healthcare and protections against housing and employment discrimination.

And as a side note, my (straight female) friend and I definitely got mistaken for a lesbian couple by a reporter at the rally this evening. Now that’s not something that’s happened to me before!

Evangelicalism/Fundamentalism

LGBTQ

marriage

Previous Post

March 26, 2013

"That Just Means He Likes You"

Next Post

March 27, 2013 The Three Weavers, part II: How the Story Begins

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Atheism Evangelicalism/Fundamentalism Family Feminism Homeschool Meta Parenting Patriarchy Politics Purity Quiverfull Social Justice Uncategorized Worthwhile reads

Select a Month February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many books are in the New Testament?

Select your answer to see how you score.

22 39 66 27