Religious individualism vs. authority: Influencing attitudes towards LGBTQ rights

This study examines the influence of religion on public opinion regarding LGBTQ rights, focusing on attitudes toward same-sex marriage, religiously based service refusals, and anti-discrimination laws. Using data from the 2021 Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) American Values Survey, the research investigates how distrust in religious authority, religious affiliation, and religiosity shape these attitudes. The study employs ordinal logistic regression to analyze the ordinal nature of the dependent variables, controlling for demographic factors such as political affiliation, gender, race, education, marital status, and age. Key findings reveal that distrust in religious authority significantly predicts stronger opposition to religiously based service refusals and greater support for same-sex marriage, aligning with the concept of religious individualism. Religious affiliation also plays a critical role, with Evangelical Protestants exhibiting the most conservative views, while secular individuals and liberal religious groups show stronger support for LGBTQ rights. Religiosity, measured by frequency of religious service attendance, correlates with opposition to LGBTQ rights, reinforcing traditional teachings. Surprisingly, political affiliation does not significantly influence attitudes once religious factors are accounted for, suggesting religion mediates political effects. Demographic variables such as gender, education, and race further shape opinions, with women, highly educated individuals, and younger respondents more likely to support LGBTQ rights. The study contributes to the literature by highlighting the tension between institutional religious authority and individualistic interpretations of faith, which can foster progressive attitudes. It underscores the need for policymakers and activists to consider religious individualism as a pathway to inclusivity. Limitations include the cross-sectional design, which precludes causal inferences, and the measurement of religious individualism. This study advances understanding of the interplay between religion, personal autonomy, and social attitudes toward LGBTQ rights in contemporary society.