Acceptance Grows, Slowly But Steadily, For Gay Evangelils : NPR

Contents:

• EVANGELILS ARE CHANGG THEIR MDS ON GAY MARRIAGE
• CELIBATE GAY CHRISTIANS: NEHER SHOCKGLY CONSERVATIVE NOR WORRYGLY LIBERAL
• LGBT RIGHTS AI: WILL KENYA BE THE LATT TO PASS ANTI-GAY LAW?
• GAY CHRISTIANS VS. EVANGELIL WARRRS
• ACCEPTANCE GROWS, SLOWLY BUT STEADILY, FOR GAY EVANGELILS
• EVANGELILS WH GAY CHILDREN CHALLENGE CHURCH
• THE GAY AND TRANS CHILDREN OF EVANGELIL CHRISTIAN FAI
• WHY ARE MORE EVANGELILS SUPPORTG GAY MARRIAGE?
• EVANGELILS AND GAYS: WHY CAN'T WE ALL JT GET ALONG?
• 10 REASONS GOD LOV GAY CHRISTIANS
• HOW CHRISTIANS TURNED AGAST GAY CONVERSN THERAPY

EVANGELILS ARE CHANGG THEIR MDS ON GAY MARRIAGE

Views about homosexualy18-2930-4950-6465+Sample sizeShould be accepted25%36%26%13%2, 881Should be disuraged12%31%32%24%4, 832Neher/both equally18%37%29%17%393Don't know14%33%27%26%311Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyYounger MillennialOlr MillennialGeneratn XBaby BoomerSilentGreattSample sizeShould be accepted15%16%29%30%8%1%2, 881Should be disuraged7%10%26%38%17%2%4, 832Neher/both equally10%16%29%33%11%1%393Don't know8%9%30%32%20%1%311Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.

Views about homosexualyMenWomenSample sizeShould be accepted40%60%2, 912Should be disuraged49%51%4, 943Neher/both equally44%56%406Don't know42%58%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyWheBlackAsianLatoOther/MixedSample sizeShould be accepted72%7%2%13%6%2, 890Should be disuraged79%6%1%10%4%4, 878Neher/both equally70%5%1%16%8%396Don't know70%5%3%15%6%315Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.

CELIBATE GAY CHRISTIANS: NEHER SHOCKGLY CONSERVATIVE NOR WORRYGLY LIBERAL

Views about homosexualyImmigrantsSend generatnThird generatn or higherSample sizeShould be accepted9%9%83%2, 877Should be disuraged9%5%86%4, 885Neher/both equally10%6%84%401Don't know13%9%78%321Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.

Views about homosexualyLs than $30, 000$30, 000-$49, 999$50, 000-$99, 999$100, 000 or moreSample sizeShould be accepted37%22%26%15%2, 627Should be disuraged34%22%30%14%4, 260Neher/both equally36%24%24%16%341Don't know42%19%26%12%234Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyHigh school or lsSome llegeCollegePost-graduate greeSample sizeShould be accepted39%39%15%8%2, 910Should be disuraged47%33%14%7%4, 905Neher/both equally37%42%14%7%403Don't know47%35%11%6%327Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyMarriedLivg wh a partnerDivorced/separatedWidowedNever marriedSample sizeShould be accepted45%8%16%6%24%2, 906Should be disuraged63%2%13%9%13%4, 924Neher/both equally51%6%16%8%19%404Don't know47%8%15%12%18%328Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.

LGBT RIGHTS AI: WILL KENYA BE THE LATT TO PASS ANTI-GAY LAW?

Views about homosexualyParentsNon-parentsSample sizeShould be accepted33%67%2, 907Should be disuraged30%70%4, 921Neher/both equally29%71%405Don't know30%70%327Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyBelieve God; absolutely certaBelieve God; fairly certaBelieve God; not too/not at all certaBelieve God; don't knowDo not believe GodOther/don't know if they believe GodSample sizeShould be accepted80%17%2%< 1%< 1%< 1%2, 912Should be disuraged93%5%1%< 1%< 1%< 1%4, 943Neher/both equally88%12%< 1%< 1%< 1%< 1%406Don't know87%10%1%1%1%< 1%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.

Views about homosexualyVery importantSomewhat importantNot too importantNot at all importantDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted65%30%4%1%< 1%2, 912Should be disuraged88%10%1%1%< 1%4, 943Neher/both equally78%16%1%2%2%406Don't know78%16%2%< 1%4%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyAt least once a weekOnce or twice a month/a few tim a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted39%44%17%< 1%2, 912Should be disuraged70%21%9%< 1%4, 943Neher/both equally59%26%13%2%406Don't know55%29%13%3%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyAt least dailyWeeklyMonthlySeldom/neverDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted68%20%5%7%< 1%2, 912Should be disuraged86%10%2%2%1%4, 943Neher/both equally83%11%1%5%1%406Don't know76%16%2%2%4%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.

Views about homosexualyAt least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral tim a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted25%15%11%49%< 1%2, 912Should be disuraged56%12%8%23%1%4, 943Neher/both equally44%11%12%33%< 1%406Don't know40%10%14%35%1%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.

GAY CHRISTIANS VS. EVANGELIL WARRRS

Views about homosexualyAt least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral tim a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted41%8%4%46%1%2, 912Should be disuraged54%6%2%36%2%4, 943Neher/both equally53%8%4%32%3%406Don't know49%6%2%38%5%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyAt least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral tim a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted65%16%9%9%1%2, 912Should be disuraged80%9%4%5%1%4, 943Neher/both equally80%9%3%7%2%406Don't know76%8%7%5%3%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyAt least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral tim a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted45%19%13%23%1%2, 912Should be disuraged49%15%10%24%2%4, 943Neher/both equally53%12%13%20%3%406Don't know49%11%8%25%7%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.

Views about homosexualyRelignPhilosophy/reasonCommon senseScienceDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted40%9%44%5%2%2, 912Should be disuraged73%3%21%2%2%4, 943Neher/both equally62%5%25%3%6%406Don't know57%2%32%3%7%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyThere are clear standards for what is right and wrongRight or wrong pends on the suatnNeher/both equallyDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted34%64%1%1%2, 912Should be disuraged60%37%1%1%4, 943Neher/both equally45%50%5%< 1%406Don't know44%47%3%5%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.

Views about homosexualyAt least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral tim a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted46%16%10%28%< 1%2, 912Should be disuraged74%9%5%11%1%4, 943Neher/both equally64%12%9%14%1%406Don't know62%13%5%18%2%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.

ACCEPTANCE GROWS, SLOWLY BUT STEADILY, FOR GAY EVANGELILS

Views about homosexualyWord of God; should be taken lerallyWord of God; not everythg taken lerallyWord of God; other/don't knowNot the word of GodOther/don't knowSample sizeShould be accepted36%42%3%14%6%2, 912Should be disuraged68%21%4%4%3%4, 943Neher/both equally46%30%9%7%9%406Don't know56%22%11%5%5%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.

Views about homosexualyBelieveDon't believeOther/don't knowSample sizeShould be accepted89%6%5%2, 912Should be disuraged88%5%7%4, 943Neher/both equally83%5%12%406Don't know83%6%12%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyBelieveDon't believeOther/don't knowSample sizeShould be accepted76%17%7%2, 912Should be disuraged87%7%6%4, 943Neher/both equally76%12%13%406Don't know74%9%17%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyRepublin/lean leanDemocrat/lean sizeShould be accepted43%17%40%2, 912Should be disuraged66%13%21%4, 943Neher/both equally49%26%24%406Don't know46%29%25%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.

Views about homosexualyConservativeMorateLiberalDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted34%39%21%6%2, 912Should be disuraged69%19%8%5%4, 943Neher/both equally52%29%10%9%406Don't know47%25%10%18%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualySmaller ernment; fewer servicBigger ernment; more servicDependsDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted53%41%3%3%2, 912Should be disuraged72%23%2%3%4, 943Neher/both equally61%23%9%7%406Don't know56%30%5%9%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.

EVANGELILS WH GAY CHILDREN CHALLENGE CHURCH

Views about homosexualyDo more harm than goodDo more good than harmNeher/both equallyDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted47%48%3%1%2, 912Should be disuraged63%32%3%2%4, 943Neher/both equally48%33%16%2%406Don't know48%34%5%13%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyLegal all/most sIllegal all/most sDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted54%44%3%2, 912Should be disuraged20%78%3%4, 943Neher/both equally32%60%8%406Don't know25%54%21%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.

Views about homosexualyStrongly favor/favorOppose/strongly opposeDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted67%26%7%2, 912Should be disuraged4%92%3%4, 943Neher/both equally18%54%29%406Don't know15%38%47%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyStricter environmental laws and regulatns st too many jobs and hurt the enomyStricter environmental laws and regulatns are worth the stNeher/both equallyDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted39%57%2%3%2, 912Should be disuraged55%39%3%3%4, 943Neher/both equally47%39%9%5%406Don't know43%39%4%14%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state. Views about homosexualyEvolved; due to natural procsEvolved; due to God's signEvolved; don't know howAlways existed prent formDon't knowSample sizeShould be accepted18%37%3%38%3%2, 912Should be disuraged6%18%2%70%5%4, 943Neher/both equally7%25%5%54%9%406Don't know10%21%5%50%14%332Sample siz and margs of error vary om subgroup to subgroup, om year to year and om state to state.

THE GAY AND TRANS CHILDREN OF EVANGELIL CHRISTIAN FAI

Qut, which was planted by Eugene Cho 2001, currently scrib self as “fully affirmg” and says on s webse wel everyone “cludg, but not limed to, Lbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgenr, Intersex, Asexual, and Queer folks” to all levels of volvement the church.

WHY ARE MORE EVANGELILS SUPPORTG GAY MARRIAGE?

The vio has gone viral, rackg up more than 730, 000 views to date, landg V on the ver of the New York Tim Sunday Styl sectn and helpg him raise $100, 000 for the nference, where he lnched The Reformatn Project, a natnwi work of pro-gay evangelils mted to endg their church’s longstandg hostily toward gay people.

About a quarter of evangelils now support same-sex unns, the stute has found, wh an equal number occupyg what rearchers at Baylor Universy last year lled the “msy middle” of those who oppose gay marriage on moral grounds but no longer support efforts to outlaw . In Oh, where 2004 evangelil activists were among the first the natn to mpaign for a succsful ballot measure outlawg gay unns, both Rob Portman, the state’s Republin senator, and Jim Petro, former Republin attorney general, now support overturng the ban. V, now 24, me up wh the ia for the project after takg a leave of absence om his studi Harvard Universy to study the Bible and Christian history, all an effort to nvce fellow evangelils, cludg his own parents Wicha, that they should embrace gay people like him.

EVANGELILS AND GAYS: WHY CAN'T WE ALL JT GET ALONG?

In April, when V published a book about the beliefs, God and the Gay Christian: The Biblil Case Support of Same-Sex Relatnships, sparked a torrent of onle nversatn and prompted the Natnal Relig Broadsters, an associatn of Christian media groups, to kick out the book’s Christian publisher for “unbiblil material. Days before V’ book was published, the Amerin Fay Associatn, a Mississippi-based evangelil nonprof anizatn, issued a prs release headled, “God and the Gay Christian Is Anythg but Biblilly Accurate: Amerin Fay Associatn Calls Out Book’s False Msage and Misleadg Marketg. He poted to the money behd a pro-gay outreach iative among several natnal gay advocy anizatns, cludg the Human Rights Campaign, that aims to expand LGBT rights Southern stat; Colorado gay rights philanthropist Tim Gill has mted $25 ln to the effort.

Tcher had started a pro-gay Bible study group at New Vienna and rmally unseled gay teens, but some of her peers were turned off; two of them left the roughly 75-person ngregatn for a few weeks when they learned of her activism, the pastor, Sarah Chapman, told me. What we are suggtg is that the stly obedience of celibate gay Christians should impact the full church by beg a mol of what we are all lled to live to: a life of sacrifice which the hardships we face are given meang and signifince relatn to the passn of Christ.

The Ugandan law is regard as one of the harsht anti-LGBTQ laws the propos life imprisonment for anyone nvicted of homosexualy, and the ath penalty for so-lled aggravated s, which clu havg gay sex wh someone below the age of 18 or where someone be fected wh a life-long illns such as the other si of the ntent, MPs Ghana earlier this month unanimoly voted favour of amendments to the untry's anti-gay legislatn, phg closer to beg enacted to law. Though ls harsh than Uganda's new law, the Promotn of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Fay Valu Bill propos a three-year prison sentence for anyone who intifi as LGBTQ and a 10-year sentence for anyone who promot homosexualy. Gay sex is already illegal Kenya, but the ernment n also be tolerant of gay people - for example, has given asylum to people om other Ain untri, cludg Uganda, who faced persecutn their home untri bee of their sexual orientatn.

10 REASONS GOD LOV GAY CHRISTIANS

Image source, Getty ImagImage ptn, Many Kenyans believe that gay rights are agast their relign - whether Christian or MlimAlthough the meetg Uganda was billed as an attempt to protect the "sovereignty" of Ain stat, was actually -sponsored by an Amerin Christian right-wg anisatn, Fay Watch Internatnal (FWI) Kapya Kaoma, a Zambian prit the Anglin Church and an amic at Boston Universy the US, says Ain untri are beg targeted by FWI and siar US-based anisatns, and that the impact of s lobbyg has been "horrible and humane" parts of Ai, fuellg what he lls "ant homophobia". "It is one thg to say: 'I don't agree wh you beg gay', but we didn't have the ant one, where policians now are sayg: 'You go to jail for life, you go to jail for talkg about beg gay, you go to jail bee you're livg wh your fellow woman', " Dr Kaoma says. ”I (as a gay Christian) am very grateful for the quali that the Evangelil Warrrs brg to God’s here is my hope: that Evangelil Warrrs would be very grateful for the quali we gay Christians brg to the Kgdom of Mike Rosebh is the founr/thor of GAYoda.

HOW CHRISTIANS TURNED AGAST GAY CONVERSN THERAPY

“This nference illtrat jt how cleverly ceptive this [Revoice] movement really is, as they manipulate the dience emotnally wh heart-wrenchg ttimoni between each and every ssn by “homosexual Christians” who have “cid” to be celibate for Christ, for which they surely serve all the glory and applse! The parents have only recently started fdg each other onle and through fah-oriented anizatns for gays and lbians such as the Gay Christian Network, The Reformatn Project and The Mar Lda Robertson, who blogs about her son at, said a private Facebook page she started last year for evangelil mothers of gays has more than 300 members.

And the last few years, high-profile s of proment Christian parents embracg their gay children dite a change is occurrg beyond a few isolated Brownson, a New Ttament scholar at Wtern Theologil Semary, a Michigan school affiliated wh the Reformed Church Ameri, last year published the book "Bible, Genr, Sexualy, " advotg a re-examatn of what Scripture says about same-sex relatnships. "I thk at some pot moms and dads are gog to say to their pastors and church learship that you n't tell me that my child is not loved unndnally by God, " said San Shopland, the dghter of a Prbyterian missnary who, along wh her gay son, is active wh the Gay Christian Baldock, a Christian who advot for gay acceptance through her webse, said evangelil parents are speakg out more bee of the example set by their children. Mohler has said he expects some evangelil church to eventually regnize same-sex relatnships, but not signifint Robertson said the mothers who ntact her through her Facebook page ually aren't ready to fully accept their gay sons or dghters.

Relign plays only a mor role Vi’s story, but his experienc rerce the film’s pots about how evangelil parents, who were often ignorant or aaid of what gay or trans means the ey of God, need to be ted and bond wh their children. " This mol nsirs homosexualy as a fixed tra like sk lor and ti the gay rights stggle to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, a nnectn he believ rts on flty evangelils say they support gay marriage "legally" but not necsarily theologilly, but the poll qutns do not explore that dimensn, he McFarland, an apologist and a director of the Center for Christian Worldview and Apologetics at North Greenville Universy, said a phone terview wh The Christian Post Wednday that the growg Christian support for gay marriage is multi-faceted. For a helpful roadmap to the broar nsultatn on and for a variety of evangelil perspectiv on LGBT issu (cludg piec by McLaren, Jon, Mart, and Dalrymple), please see the "Gui to the Consultatn on Reimagg the Relatnship Between Evangelils and Gays, " which n be found by clickg here.