Cool with contraception, Americans divide over transgender bathrooms and wedding services for gays

[rug]

By Lauren Markoe | 9 hours ago

(RNS) When it comes to contraception, a clear majority of Americans say employers should be required to cover it in their health care plans — even if they have religious objections.

But a survey released Wednesday (Sept. 28) by the Pew Research Center reveals a sharp division on another hot topic: whether photographers, cake bakers and other wedding service providers should have to serve same-sex couples. And Americans also disagree on whether transgender people should have to use the public restroom of their gender at birth.

“What doesn’t surprise me — but is I think the biggest news in terms of the value of the research — is the deep divide in this country is more basically theological than anything else,” the Rev. Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said of the study.

For Mohler, Pew’s findings on religious liberty “have almost everything to do” with whether a person attends church services regularly.

http://religionnews.com/2016/09/28/cool-with-contraception-americans-divide-over-transgender-bathrooms-and-wedding-services-for-gays/

Pdf of survey at link:

http://www.pewforum.org/2016/09/28/where-the-public-stands-on-religious-liberty-vs-nondiscrimination/