The debate goes on in America when it comes to the wedding industry, religious freedom and businesses’ right to refuse to serve customers who go against their religious beliefs. The media is often portraying stories of businesses that are turning down order from LGBTQ+ couples, and it is disheartening to say the least. In a political climate where the government is not advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, it can seem like everyone is against them.
“The Department of Justice told the Supreme Court on Thursday that a baker who is religiously opposed to gay marriage should not be forced to make wedding cakes for same-sex couples,” wrote the Huffington Post last week. “DOJ said that requiring Jack Phillips, the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Colorado, to create a wedding cake for a gay couple under public accommodations laws would violate his constitutional rights.”
Despite stories like these existing in the news, a recent study from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) shows that not everyone is in support of wedding-based businesses being allowed to turn down LGBTQ+ couples. In fact, the small majority believes that everyone should be served, no matter the organization’s views.
“A majority (53%) of Americans oppose allowing businesses that provide wedding services, such as catering, flowers, and wedding cakes, to refuse services to same-sex couples, compared to about four in ten (41%) who say they would support allowing these wedding-based businesses to refuse services to same-sex couples for religious reasons,” the PRRI study reports.
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While 53% is just barely a majority, it is a majority nonetheless, and the majority increases when breaking the support down by religion, gender and ethnicity.
“On this issue, young people are solidly opposed while older Americans are divided,” shared the study. “Nearly two-thirds (64%) of young people (age 18-29) say wedding-based businesses should not be allowed to refuse services to same-sex couples on religious grounds. Americans age 65 and older are divided: Roughly as many support (45%) as oppose (50%) allowing wedding-based businesses to refuse services to same-sex couples. There is a sizable gender gap. Six in ten (60%) women believe they should not be permitted to refuse services, while men are divided: 48% support, 47% oppose.”
If you are concerned about hiring vendors for your LGBTQ+ wedding, use these tips to help find equality-minded vendors or choose from a list of equality-minded vendors using our vendor guide.
Featured image via The Washington Times
