Love is Winning
“The trends within Christianity are part of a broader increase in acceptance and affirmation around the world.”
It may seem like the loudest and most prominent voices in Christianity are non-affirming. While many churches and denominations are far from LGBTQ+ acceptance and affirmation, (especially with regard to acceptance of trans or gender non-conforming identities), there are many data points that reveal that love is indeed winning.
A Pew Research Center study conducted in 2019 revealed that overall support for same-sex marriage in US Christianity has been steadily increasing over the past two decades. The study reflects that although support for same-sex marriage among white evangelical Protestants remains the lowest among the various religious groups, even their support for same-sex marriage has grown from 11% in 2004 to 29% today.
The trends within Christianity are part of a broader increase in acceptance and affirmation around the world.
In 2017, in the United States alone, PRRI found that “six in ten (58%) Americans express support for same-sex marriage today, compared to 53% in 2015, a five-point increase.” A study released by PRRI in March of 2021 found that “more than three in four Americans (76%) favor laws that would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans from discrimination in jobs, housing, and public accommodation.”
“... A 21-point increase since 2002 in South Africa and a 19-point increase in South Korea over the same time period. India also saw a 22-point increase since 2014, the first time the question was asked of a nationally representative sample there.
“There also have been fairly large shifts in acceptance of homosexuality over the past 17 years in two very different places: Mexico and Japan. In both countries, just over half said they accepted homosexuality in 2002, but now closer to seven-in-ten say this.
“In Kenya, only 1 in 100 said homosexuality should be accepted in 2002, compared with 14% who say this now.”
As more people come out and live their lives as faithful, LGBTQ+ Christians, their friends, family members and faith communities increasingly find themselves reconsidering their personal theology. A growing number of individuals are changing their minds about what they once believed to be true about LGBTQ+ people. The Church is very slowly, but steadily, softening its once rigid stance towards the LGBTQ+ community.
As we draw this series to a close, it can be helpful to be reminded of the Simple Truths that ground our identities and our faith in our experiences. Several weeks ago, we published a series entitled: Simple Truths. Click here to be encouraged.
