Liberal Political Orientation Strengthens the Positive Relationship between Religiosity and Support of Restrictive Bathroom Legislation

Abstract

Political orientation and some aspects of religiosity (e.g., religious fundamentalism) are associated with support for legislative initiatives restricting access to public bathrooms and other facilities (i.e., bathroom bills), but researchers have yet to examine the unique ways that elements of religiosity interact with political ideals to shape voting behaviors on bathroom legislation. Our online study utilized a correlational, cross-sectional survey design. We asked 263 Mechanical Turk participants to complete measures of political orientation, religiosity (i.e., frequency of religious practices), inclusive and exclusive religious ideology, and attitudes of support or opposition to restrictive bathroom legislation. Data were collected in April, 2018. We found that participants perceived being exposed to significantly more inclusive than exclusive religious ideology, but only exclusive ideology significantly predicted support for restrictive bathroom legislation. We also found that, as predicted, political orientation moderated the relationship between religiosity and support for restrictive bathroom legislation. Religiosity predicted more support for restrictive bathroom legislation in general, but this association was stronger among liberals than it was among conservatives. The present study is one of the first to focus on the more complex dynamics of political orientation and religiosity and how they may shape restrictive bathroom legislation. Results deepen current research on bathroom legislation voting patterns. Despite their general failure to pass into law, bathroom regulations increase distress among transgender and nonbinary people. Better understanding motivations behind voters’ support for restrictive bathroom laws may strengthen advocacy efforts against them.