Religion, Homosexuality and Gay Rights

Abstract

Building on the previous chapter’s focus on religious groups’ changing views on abortion, this chapter provides a detailed analysis of religious groups’ attitudes towards homosexuality and related equality issues. There are obvious reasons for looking at religious groups’ attitudes in this area across recent decades given that ‘traditionally, sexual relationships and family life are areas which have been closely policed by religious organisations and religious teaching’ (Francis et al. 2005: 45). Moreover, Hayes and Dowds’ observe that’ … some commentators go so far as to suggest that public disputes and related court battles over homosexual rights have now replaced abortion as the most significant and divisive moral issue within many contemporary western industrialized societies’ (2013: 2). It is certainly the case that British society has seen major pieces of legislation enacted in recent years bringing greater social equality for same-sex individuals and relationships, which have often been opposed by religious traditions and organisations.