Despite the fact that Texas lawmakers have recently proposed a raft of discriminatory legislation, a new study has found that a majority of voters in the state believe workplace protection should be introduced for LGBTI employees.

The study, undertaken by G Squared Public Strategies for Texas Wins, took place in early April. The statewide survey spoke to 800 likely voters.

Key findings concluded that, ‘A strong majority of voters believe that discrimination against the LGBT community is a problem. Nearly 63% of voters would also support a law protecting these individuals from discrimination.

Perhaps surprisingly for some, it went on to say that, ‘A majority of Republicans are concerned about discrimination and support efforts to protect LGBT individuals from employment discrimination.’

Looking more closely at the results, 61.3% of those polled said that they thought LGBT discrimination was a problem – with the vote split between those who thought it a ‘major’ problem (28.6%) and a ‘minor’ problem (32.6%).

Of the 62.6% who supported the introduction of workplace protection laws based on sexual orientation, this represented 80% of Democrats polled and 52.1% of Republicans.

Furthermore, ‘More than three quarters of respondents said religion is extremely important or very important to them personally.’ However, ‘Despite their personal commitment to religion, when asked about religious exemption laws generally, more than 52% of voters opposed such laws.’

Most of those polled said that they valued religious freedom, and most believed that religious freedom was already protected by the US Constitution. However, 79% agreed with the statement ‘Religious freedom is one of our country’s fundamental values, but that freedom does not give us the right to harm others.’

Sixty-four per cent said that they were ‘unconvinced’ that gay marriage posed any threat to religious freedom.

More details on the survey can be read here.

‘Texas lawmakers have filed a flurry of bills to enshrine discrimination against gay and transgender people under the guise of religious liberty. But it’s clear that Texans don’t support allowing people to use religion as a weapon to harm others,’ said Christina Gorczynski, campaign director for advocacy group Texas Wins.

‘No matter what questions we asked, a strong majority of Texans favored equality, regardless of political party.’

Commenting on the results, Terri Burke, Executive Director of ACLU said in a statement, ‘Texas lawmakers are too busy perfecting a discrimination playbook to notice that their constituents have left them behind.’

‘It’s time for our legislators to join their fellow Texans in embracing equality under the law for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.’

G Squared Public Strategies is an Idaho based company that has worked on several Republican campaigns including that of the 2008 GOP presidential nominee John McCain.

Texas lawmakers introduced 20 bills that advocates consider to be discriminatory during the 84th Texas Legislature, including some that seek to ‘enhance’ the state’s 1999 Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Fifteen of the bills have already been defeated.

Four of the bills, primarily focusing on gay marriage and the rights of ‘conscientious objectors’ to refuse services for same-sex weddings, were introduced by GOP Rep Cecil Bell.

Approached for comment about the survey, and what he felt about the fact that 63% of voters supported the notion of a workplace protection for LGBT individuals, Rep. Bell indicated that he believed no further legislation was required.

He said in a statement to Gay Star Business: ‘I believe we already have protection for individuals in the workforce, particularly by prohibiting discrimination against a person’s sex.’

Chuck Smith, Executive Director of Equality Texas, took a different stance.

‘Under current law it is illegal to discriminate in employment in Texas based on a person’s race, religion, gender, national origin, age, or disability. It remains legal to discriminate based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression,’ Smith told Gay Star Business.

‘All Texans should have the right to provide for themselves and their families. Businesses need a stable workforce and clear guidelines in order to recruit and maintain the best employees. Adopting a single, statewide standard of employment non-discrimination is good for Texans and good for Texas businesses.’



Image: LoneStarMike | Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons