Let gays be denied services, polled say

Many back gay nuptials — and religious exemption for foes.

There is strong support for gay marriage in the United States, according to a new Associated PressGfK poll, but there is slightly stronger support for allowing businesses to deny services to same-sex couples on religious grounds.

Americans favor samesex marriage by 44 percent to 39 percent, with 15 percent having no opinion, according to the poll published Thursday.

It also found that 57 percent of respondents said they favored a religious exemption, and 39 percent said they were opposed. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

More than 30 states and the District of Columbia have approved same-sex marriages and the issue will be argued this term before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Those who back an exemption argue it is part of the constitutionally protected right of freedom of religion. Opponents argue that the Constitution also protects individuals from facing discrimination.

“At its most basic proposition it is whether you can turn away someone for the way they are,” said Louise Melling, deputy legal director at the American Civil Liberties Union, which represents same-sex couple in several states who say they were denied wedding services provided by florists, photographers or bakers.

The ACLU supports religious rights unless they impose harm or discriminate against others, Melling said.

The Alliance Defending Freedom said the issue involves the personal freedom of store owners who refuse to provide a service because it would violate their religious beliefs.

“Every American ... has been guaranteed the freedom to live and work faithfully,” the group said in a statement emailed by Vice President Greg Scott.