An Associated Press-GfK poll has revealed the sharp divide that America now lies in after the Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage. As opposed to earlier this year, gay unions now face even less support, the poll suggests.
Marriage equality is not ensured in all 50 states, our nation is still divided on the idea of same-sex union. According to the poll, only 39% or all participants approve the recent decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Obergefell Vs Hodges. The remaining participants wither disagreed with the ruling (41%) or failed to voice an opinion (19%).
And opinions were just as diverse regarding the idea of LGBTI couples getting married in the states where respondents resided in: only 42% of those who accepted to take part in the poll were in favor of LGBTI marriage, while 40% were opposed.
So despite the fact that the Supreme Court has finally taken a stand on this legal matter, many Americans still believe that religious liberties should take precedence to the legal rights that should be offered to all US citizen regardless of differences.
Certain poll respondents insisted that the Supreme Court’s ruling did nothing more than jeopardize their religious freedoms, and that this ruling will lead to a widespread conflict between those wanting to live their lives according to their religious convictions and civil law.
And the divide is just as notable among politicians. Congressional Republicans are also split up into two camps. They are either offering their support to a controversial bill which now hopes to offer religious groups the freedom of firing LGBT employees or opposing the bill and supporting another one hoping to expand protections for gay couples.
“All religious Americans deserve assurance that they can carry out their conscience without a federal government crackdown,” Texas Rep. Bill Flores notes, one of the supporters of H.R. 2802, a bill that would protect religious groups who choose to object to gay marriage from federal government prosecution.
What remains to be seen is whether this divide will contribute to moving the country forward or backward.
Photo credits: Huff Post
