Opposition to same-sex marriage has long been a central issue for the religious right in the United States. Figures like Anita Bryant, Jerry Falwell, and James Dobson have portrayed homosexuality as a threat to traditional family values. However, with the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015, the landscape has shifted.
Tony Perkins, head of the Family Research Council, initially warned that the ruling would bring about the downfall of America. Franklin Graham, an evangelist, went so far as to describe the country as having fallen into a moral cesspool. Nevertheless, the Obergefell ruling changed the dynamics by ending the state-by-state battles over same-sex marriage and deflating the issue within the religious right’s base. Now, their focus has shifted more towards issues surrounding gender.
Public opinion on same-sex marriage has rapidly shifted towards acceptance in this century. Back in the early 2000s, about 60 percent of Americans opposed it. Today, that same percentage supports it. This shift is also evident among many Christians, including young evangelicals. A Pew poll revealed that nearly half of white evangelicals born after 1964 favored same-sex marriage in 2017, compared to just a quarter of older white evangelicals.
Interestingly, some faith groups that have traditionally opposed gay rights have now shown support for certain accommodations for same-sex marriage. For example, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced its support for the Respect for Marriage Act, which was signed into law by President Biden in December. However, there are still many religious groups with conservative leadership that oppose the legislation.
In recent years, conservative Christians concerned about same-sex marriage have focused on protecting specific legal areas. They have defended small business owners like Lorie Smith, who work in creative industries and refuse to take jobs associated with same-sex weddings. They have also been dedicated to maintaining the tax-exempt status for churches and universities, even those that exclude individuals in same-sex relationships from certain positions.
Jim Daly, the president of the influential conservative group Focus on the Family, acknowledges that a shift is occurring. He believes that conservative Christians recognize the inevitability of the changing culture and their limited ability to control it.
Overall, the landscape surrounding same-sex marriage has undergone significant changes, with public opinion and attitudes within religious communities evolving. The fight has shifted from opposing nationwide recognition of same-sex marriage to defending specific religious freedoms and accommodations.
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