When Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2003, America's major religious denominations didn’t offer much support.
Now, more than a decade later, religious attitudes toward LGBT rights have shifted dramatically. Not only are people of faith more vocal about their support for marriage equality, but they are, at times, willing to contradict official church doctrine to express those views.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments from a group of cases that challenge same-sex marriage bans in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. The Public Religion Research Institute recently used data from its American Values Atlas to determine where America’s major religious groups now stand on the issue.
The major religious groups that showed the strongest support were Buddhists (84 percent) and Jews (77 percent). Religiously unaffiliated Americans were 77 percent in favor, while Americans who identified as being from an “other religion” were 75 percent in favor.
Sixty-two percent of white mainline Protestants were also supportive of allowing same-sex partners to tie the knot.
Jay Michaelson, a gay Buddhist writer and activist, believes American Buddhists came out at the top of the list because of the community’s demographics. He said that over half of American Buddhists are converts who tend to be liberal, highly educated and white.
But he thinks it's another demographic characteristic that is key to how LGBT couples will be treated in the future.
“I think demographics will be more powerful than doctrine,” Michaelson told HuffPost in an email. “Yes, a national right to marry confirms that gay people are people; 'gay marriage' is not some separate thing from marriage -- it's marriage. But if you look at the data, it tilts on a generational axis. Younger people do not understand what the big deal is here. That's true for white evangelicals, Catholics, and even those in the Black Protestant world.”
Despite the Catholic Church’s prohibitive stance, the Public Religion Research Institute did find that the majority of both white and Hispanic Catholics were in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage.
Francis DeBernardo, executive director of the Catholic LGBT advocacy group New Ways Ministry, said that American Catholics see marriage equality as a social justice issue. Since Catholics have come to know more LGBT people in their workplaces, neighborhoods and churches, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for them to justify why LGBT couples should be treated differently.
“[American Catholics] want to protect the rights, dignity, and equality of lesbian and gay couples, and they want to protect their families,” DeBernardo told HuffPost in an email. “American Catholics support same-sex marriage because they are Catholic, not in spite of being Catholic."
Gay marriage still hasn’t found much support among more conservative religious traditions -- Jehovah’s Witnesses (75 percent), Mormons (68 percent) and white evangelical Protestants (66 percent) were all against the idea.
Meanwhile, faith-based advocacy groups have helped churches embrace same-sex couples. Within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for example, groups like More Light Presbyterians and the Covenant Network of Presbyterians worked for years to push for change within their congregations. Earlier this year, the PC (USA) announced a change to its constitution that describes marriage as being "between two people."
James Rowe, the director of Believe Out Loud, an online network that maps churches that welcome LGBT Christians and their allies, said he's certain that the Catholic Church will be one of the last Christian denominations to affirm LGBT couples. A Catholic himself, Rowe added that he refuses to give up hope.
"A ruling by the Supreme Court in favor of same-sex marriage will continually challenge our more conservative denominations to define what it means to be followers of Christ," Rowe told HuffPost in an email.
This story has been updated with comment from gay Buddhist writer and activist Jay Michaelson.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.