Evangelical support for gay marriage rises by more than twice, Pew poll reveals

Support for same-sex marriage is at an all-time high, and it has increased by more than twice over the last decade among evangelical Christians, according to a survey conducted by Pew Research Center.

The findings of the study, published on Monday, indicated that 62 percent of Americans are in favor of gay marriage, while 32 percent remain opposed.

Support for gay marriage among evangelical Christians has increased to 35 percent over the past 10 years when it was only 14 percent. As many as 59 percent of evangelicals remain opposed to allowing homosexuals to get married.

The survey results revealed that 47 percent of white evangelicals born after 1964 favor same-sex marriage, compared with 26 percent of older evangelicals who were born between 1928 and 1964.

The Republican Party and Republican-leaning independents are nearly split on the issue, with 47 percent in favor of gay marriage, and 48 percent opposed.

African-Americans who support gay marriage has also risen to 51 percent from 39 percent in 2015. White Americans, in general, were the most supportive of the practice at 64 percent, followed by Hispanics at 60 percent.

Among Baby Boomers, 56 percent favor allowing homosexuals to marry legally, while 39 percent remain opposed. Last year, Boomers were divided on the issue with 46 percent in favor and 48 percent opposed.

Julie Rodgers, a lesbian who once worked for evangelical Wheaton College, said she believes the shift in public opinion about gay marriage is "inevitable."

She said that her views about the issue shifted because she saw another way of interpreting the Bible.

"When pastors and leaders begin to come out (as LGBT affirming), people are going to move. They just need permission," she said. "It gives people another perspective and permission to say, 'I feel that way, too,'" she added.

Dr. Wesley Hill, from the Trinity School for Ministry, explained that the support for same-sex marriage among younger white Evangelicals stems from their idealistic way of thinking.

"I think so much of the current support for same-sex marriage is motivated by a genuine desire to see people flourish. Singleness is such a lonely experience for so many people today, and being lesbian or gay often means facing discrimination or ostracism," he told CBN News.

Hill asserted that many people in society today want to make homosexuals feel "at home," and for the younger generation, marriage appears to be the ideal "home" for members of the LGBT community.

"If we're ever going to change that trend, we have to show, in our churches and in our families and communities, that there is another home — a truer, more life-giving one — that Christ offers," he said.