Most Americans Say Gender Change Is Not Morally Wrong
Six in 10 Americans do not think it is morally wrong to identify with the opposite gender one was born with, according to a Lifeway research study.
"A majority of Americans reject the view of a Creator giving them a gender that shouldn't be changed," LifeWay Research Executive Director Scott McConnell said. "We freely change many things about ourselves--we have cosmetic surgery, we use teeth whitener, we dye our hair, we get tattoos. Many Americans view gender as one more thing on that list."
LifeWay Research asked 1,000 Americans by phone last year about gender identity.
The first question asked was whether it is morally wrong for an individual to identify with a gender different than the sex they were born.
- 35% said identifying with a different gender is morally wrong
- 45% disagree with the statement
- 14% said it is not a moral issue
- The remaining 6% said they were unsure
Participants were also asked whether it is morally wrong to change birth gender through surgery or hormone therapy, again with the option to agree, disagree, or say it is not a moral issue.
- 42% agreed that changing gender is morally wrong,
- 43% say they disagree with the statement.
- 11% said it is not a moral issue.
- The remaining 4% said they were unsure
"This reflects a changing worldview," McConnell said. "A growing percentage of Americans don't believe in right and wrong. They don't believe there's absolute truth. And if there's no absolute truth, then they're reluctant to talk about morality."
Excluding evangelical believers, three-quarters of Americans cite no moral qualms about changing gender identification, according to LifeWay Research.
"Evangelical Christians are clearly in the minority on this issue," McConnell said.
