In the wake of the recent Masterpiece Cakeshop ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, a new study released by PRRI showed a rise in public support for those refusing services to same-sex couples.
The shift is more prominent among Black Americans, said the survey, in their views on this issue compared to one year ago.
Close to half (45 percent) of black Americans say businesses should be allowed to refuse wedding-related services to gay and lesbian couples on religious grounds, said the Survey.
“That reflects a nine-point increase from August 2017, when just 36 percent shared this view, but the survey also demonstrates that the views of African Americans are complex.
“When asked about broad religiously-based service refusals of gay and lesbian people outside of the wedding context, only one-third (33 percent) of black Americans say this should be allowed, compared to 63 percent who say businesses should generally be required to serve gay and lesbian people,” it said.
While support for same-sex marriage and broad rights for LGBT people continue to increase, it is clear more Americans on the side of business owners who refuse to provide wedding-related services to same-sex couples if it violates their religious beliefs.
Forty-six percent of Americans say they should be allowed to refuse services, and 48 percent say they should be required to provide them.
These findings represent a significant shift from one year ago when 41 percent said business owners should be allowed to refuse wedding-related services to gay and lesbian couples and 53 percent said they should be required to provide these services.