A Majority of U.S. Adults Oppose Discrimination Against LGBTQ People
New survey: U.S. adults favor laws protecting rights of LGBTQ community.
CHICAGO, December 7, 2022 – A large majority of U.S. adults oppose discrimination against LGBTQ people, according to a new survey fielded by experts at NORC at the University of Chicago. The analysis finds that U.S. adults oppose the use of religious objections for doctors refusing medical care to LGBTQ people (84%), employers refusing to hire LGBTQ people (74%), and businesses denying services to LGBTQ people (71%).
Majorities of all age groups and education backgrounds oppose LGBTQ discrimination, with those with a bachelor’s degree or higher degree most likely to oppose discrimination, NORC experts found.
U.S. Adults' Attitudes on Religious Objections to Services for LGBTQ People
Large majorities of U.S. adults favor laws protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination (76%) and allowing gay and lesbian couples to legally marry (72%) and adopt children (71%). Smaller majorities favor allowing parents of transgender children to access gender-affirming care with the guidance of a doctor (58%) and making “conversion therapy” illegal for LGBTQ children under 18, which is a scientifically unsupported practice intended to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity (55%). Recent research shows individuals who undergo conversion therapy experience elevated risk of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress.
U.S. Adults' Attitudes on Rights for LGBTQ People
“These findings continue to demonstrate that the majority of Americans support key civil rights for LGBTQ people,” said Michelle Johns, a senior research scientist at NORC. “Overwhelmingly, Americans oppose religion being used as a justification to deny LGBTQ people access to essential services, medical care, or jobs.”
“These findings continue to demonstrate that the majority of Americans support key civil rights for LGBTQ people.”
Methodology
This self-funded poll was conducted between September 9 and September 12, 2022, during the biweekly AmeriSpeak Omnibus survey. It included 1,003 interviews with a nationally representative sample. The overall margin of sampling error is +/- 4.0 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, including the design effect. The margin of sampling error may be higher for subgroups.
About NORC at the University of Chicago
NORC at the University of Chicago conducts research and analysis that decision-makers trust. As a nonpartisan research organization and a pioneer in measuring and understanding the world, we have studied almost every aspect of the human experience and every major news event for more than eight decades. Today, we partner with government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world to provide the objectivity and expertise necessary to inform the critical decisions facing society.
Contact: For more information, please contact Eric Young at NORC at young-eric@norc.org or (703) 217-6814 (cell).