Gays Polling Higher Than Evangelical Christians

Americans have a higher opinion of gay people than they do of evangelical Christians, according to a new poll from the Human Rights Campaign.

A slim majority, 53 percent, of Americans view gay people favorably. Fewer than half, 42 percent, of Americans view evangelical Christians favorably. Gay Americans have the upper hand on negative views, too. Only 18 percent of Americans view gays unfavorably, with 28 percent having negative views of evangelical Christians.

Conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, the poll found "the number of people who know a gay or lesbian person reaching 75 percent," according to a summary on the firm's website. Additionally, a "55 percent majority supports marriage equality," with large margins of support from young people, as well as increased support from "older voters, Catholics, non-college educated voters, and Republicans." The poll found that 60% of Catholics support marriage equality.

A poll released earlier this year by the Public Religion Research Institute found that majorities of Americans "perceive three religious groups to be unfriendly to LGBT people: the Catholic Church (58%), the Mormon church (53%), and evangelical Christian churches (51%)." Further, "70% of Millennials believe that religious groups are alienating young adults by being too judgmental on gay and lesbian issues."

An unrelated poll in 2012 found that high percentages of young adults associate religion with homophobia.

Click here to read more about the HRC poll.