Public Opinion





More Americans are Accepting the Gay Lifestyle


    According to the Gallup poll, an increase in Americans' tolerance of gays in everyday life, with most majority of the public for the first time saying homosexuals should be allowed to work in the church and as school teachers. There is now broad agreement among Americans that homosexuals should have the same rights are given to all employees in the workplace. Most Americans are taken a more "live and let live" attitude toward equality. At the same time, Americans are as split as ever over the legality of gay sexual relations, with about half saying they should be legal and half not legal. One reason for the recent increase in society's acceptance of gays may be the growing belief that homosexual's sexual orientation is inborn.
    In the past Americans were most likely to believe it was a matter of upbringing and therefore, may be more of a lifestyle choice. More than four out of five Americans (84%) say gays should have equal rights in terms of the job opportunities available to the, up from 74% in 1992, 59% in 1982 and 56% in 1977. When asked specifically if gays should be hired for each of a variety of occupations, however, Americans do make some distinction. Most Americans have no problem with gays as salespersons (90%) and two thirds now approve of gays working in the President's cabinet and in the military forces.


PUBLIC OPINION: What Up's With Live and Let Live?


    If someone wants to be a homosexual, is that really anyone's business? If you have questions about homosexuality, this will clear it up.


    Forcing homosexual upon many who reject the notion that homosexuality is a normal lifestyle that can cause conflict. Some may think that homosexuality is simply a matter of what goes on between consenting adults in the privacy of the bedroom. There are issues that must be addressed. Consider these goals that homosexuals hope to achieve:


The implementation of homosexual, bisexual, and transgendered curriculum at all levels of education

The lowering of the age of consent for homosexual and heterosexual sex.

The legalization of homosexual marriages

Custody, adoption, and foster care rights for homosexuals, lesbians, and transgendered people.

The redefinition of family to include the full diversity of all family structures.

The access to all programs of the Boy Scouts of America.

Affirmative action for homosexuals.

The inclusion of sex-change operations under a universal health care plan.




    Those who oppose homosexuality are fighting to eliminate public homosexuality. They resist the effort of the homosexual community to establish their lifestyle is legitimate. Some believe that homosexuality is immoral and leads to personal decay. Not every individual homosexual necessarily is in favor of each one of these social and political goals. The movement is there to make them part of society. The information here is your weapon to fight ignorance that most people have when it comes to homosexuality.



Nature of environment


    For several years, gay rights advocates have supported the position that homosexuality is genetically programmed, not the result of upbringing or a choice. The new Gallup poll findings suggests that the public is now more likely than in the past to share their viewpoint. Between 1977 and 1989, at least half of Americans said that homosexuality was due to upbringing and environment while fewer than 20% believed it was something a person is born with. Today, Americans are split 31% saying homosexuality is present at birth and only 40% saying it is the result of life experiences. About 30% have no opinion or think that both nature and environment are factors.



A Generation Gap


    Attitudes toward gay rights are closely related to respondents' age, as well as religious commitment. For example, on the question of homosexual relations being legal, a 55% majority of young adults say they should be legal, a 55% majority of young adults say hey should be legal, compared to 47% among those 30 to 64 years of age and 24% of Americans over 64.


Gender Split on Military service


    Men and women are in general agreement about the laegality of gay relations; they are also simliar in their acceptance toward gays serving in just about any profession. However, when it comes to the military, there is an extreme anti-approval for that acceptance. With fully 71% of women saying they should be allowed to serve compared with only 58% of men. Men are also much less likely than women to believe that homosexuality is a matter of birth rather than upbringing.


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