When It Comes to Equality, Many Americans Support 'Religious Exemptions'

While more Americans approve of same-sex marriage than those who don't, a majority supports the right of businesses and public officials to refuse service and marriage licenses to gay couples.

An Associated Press-GfK poll found that 44 percent of Americans approve of marriage equality, while 39 percent oppose it (15 percent had no opinion). But 57 percent said wedding-related businesses such as florists and bakeries should be allowed to refuse service to same-sex couples if providing it conflicts with the operators' beliefs. One-third of those who favor marriage equality still believe such businesses should have religious opt-outs, and one-fourth believe that option should be available to county clerks who don't want to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples.

From the sounds of the poll, many Americans are on board with recent proposals from the Mormon Church, which called for antidiscrimination protections for LGBT people, but only if they were accompanied by so-called religious freedom protections.

"Why make an issue out of one florist when there are probably thousands of florists?" a 59-year-old poll respondent said. "The gay community wants people to understand their position, but at the same time, they don't want to understand other people's religious convictions. It's a two-way street."

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