Texas Voters Oppose 3-1 Refusing Service To LGBTQ, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Even Young Voters Back Raising Age To Buy Tobacco

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Texas voters say 71 - 22 percent that businesses should not be allowed to refuse service to someone based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Every listed party, gender, education, age, racial and religious group opposes a business refusing service, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-up-pe-ack) University Poll finds.

By a narrower 58 - 35 percent, Texas voters oppose a business refusing service, even when the business says homosexuality violates the owner's religious beliefs.

When religion is cited, support for a business refusing service is 57 - 33 percent among Republicans, 50 - 43 percent among white men and 63 - 29 percent among white Evangelicals. Catholics oppose 68 - 27 percent refusing service based on religious grounds.

There is almost no gender gap, but wide differences among religious groups and political parties as Texas voters agree 57 - 36 percent with the U.S. Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision. White Evangelicals disagree with Roe v. Wade 61 - 29 percent. Protestants are divided as 48 percent agree and 44 percent disagree. Catholics agree with Roe v. Wade 55 - 38 percent. Those with no religious affiliation agree 78 - 18 percent.

Republicans disagree with Roe v. Wade 57 - 34 percent. Agreement is 80 - 17 percent among Democrats and 67 - 27 percent among independent voters.

"Texas voters are not easy to categorize. Even on hot-button matters, they are not necessarily predictable. And, in fact, many might be surprised that the liberal position sometimes predominates," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

"Take two of the thorniest social issues of our time: abortion and gay rights. On these issues, Texas voter opinions are noteworthy."

"The gay rights dispute involves the question of whether businesses may refuse to serve people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Texans, by more than 3-1, back the liberal stance that prioritizes consumer rights. Every listed group feels that way," Brown added.

If Roe v. Wade is overturned and the abortion issue is left to the states to decide, 21 percent of Texas voters say abortion should be legal in all cases, as 33 percent say abortion should be legal in most cases. Another 29 percent say abortion should be illegal in most cases, as 12 percent say abortion should be illegal in all cases.

"Abortion is also an issue on which the liberal position is ahead in the eyes of Texans," Brown said. "A majority back the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that keeps many abortions legal.

Smoking Age

Texas voters support 63 - 31 percent raising the minimum age for buying tobacco products from 18 years old to 21 years old. Support is strong in every listed group, including voters 18 to 34 years old, who support the higher age 57 - 38 percent.

"Texans by 2-1 also back raising the legal smoking age from 18 to 21 in an issue with little ideological cast but with widespread public support," Brown said.

Governor's Job Approval

Texas voters approve 60 - 28 percent of the job Gov. Greg Abbott is doing. Approval is 85 - 8 percent among Republicans and 56 - 28 percent among independent voters. Democrats disapprove 52 - 36 percent.

From May 29 - June 4, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,159 Texas voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percentage points, including the design effect.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts gold standard surveys using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts nationwide surveys and polls in more than a dozen states on national and statewide elections, as well as public policy issues.

Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll

Call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.

11. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Greg Abbott is handling his job as governor? 
                                                               WHITE......
                                                               COLLEGE DEG
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Yes    No
 
Approve              60%    85%    36%    56%    64%    56%    62%    70%
Disapprove           28      8     52     28     25     30     30     18
DK/NA                13      8     11     16     12     14      8     12
 
                     AGE IN YRS..............    WHITE.....
                     18-34  35-49  50-64  65+    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp
 
Approve              43%    58%    65%    67%    69%    63%    66%    47%    52%
Disapprove           32     29     27     26     22     26     24     39     32
DK/NA                25     13      7      7      9     12     10     15     16
17. Do you support or oppose raising the minimum age for buying tobacco products from 18 to 21 in Texas? 
                                                               WHITE......
                                                               COLLEGE DEG
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Yes    No
 
Support              63%    60%    69%    63%    58%    68%    65%    64%
Oppose               31     36     28     27     34     28     29     30
DK/NA                 6      4      3      9      8      5      6      6
 
                     AGE IN YRS..............    WHITE.....
                     18-34  35-49  50-64  65+    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp
 
Support              57%    61%    62%    72%    58%    71%    64%    64%    59%
Oppose               38     31     32     24     36     24     30     29     34
DK/NA                 6      8      6      4      6      6      6      7      6
18. Do you think businesses should or should not be allowed to refuse service to someone based on their sexual orientation or sexual identity? 
                                                               WHITE......
                                                               COLLEGE DEG
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Yes    No
 
Should/Be allowed    22%    36%    10%    16%    29%    16%    26%    25%
Should not           71     52     89     77     63     77     67     64
DK/NA                 7     12      1      7      8      7      7     11
 
                     AGE IN YRS..............    WHITE.....
                     18-34  35-49  50-64  65+    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp
 
Should/Be allowed    18%    21%    27%    23%    33%    18%    25%    17%    19%
Should not           80     71     65     68     57     74     65     80     75
DK/NA                 1      8      8      9     10      8      9      4      6
 
                     RELIGION.................
                     Wht                         ATTEND SRVCS
                     Evang  Prot   Cath   None   Weekly Less
 
Should/Be allowed    38%    30%    19%    14%    30%    20%
Should not           50     63     76     81     60     74
DK/NA                12      8      6      5     11      6
19. What if the business says homosexuality violates its owner's religious beliefs; in that case do you think the business should or should not be allowed to refuse service to someone based on their sexual orientation or sexual identity? 
                                                               WHITE......
                                                               COLLEGE DEG
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Yes    No
 
Should/Be allowed    35%    57%    14%    28%    41%    28%    42%    45%
Should not           58     33     82     65     52     64     51     46
DK/NA                 7     10      4      7      7      7      6      8
 
                     AGE IN YRS..............    WHITE.....
                     18-34  35-49  50-64  65+    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp
 
Should/Be allowed    27%    34%    40%    37%    50%    38%    44%    22%    23%
Should not           71     58     52     55     43     55     49     68     72
DK/NA                 2      8      8      8      8      7      7      9      5
 
                     RELIGION.................
                     Wht                         ATTEND SRVCS
                     Evang  Prot   Cath   None   Weekly Less
 
Should/Be allowed    63%    45%    27%    27%    45%    31%
Should not           29     49     68     68     44     63
DK/NA                 8      6      6      5     11      6
20. In general, do you agree or disagree with the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that established a woman's right to an abortion? 
                                                               WHITE......
                                                               COLLEGE DEG
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Yes    No
 
Agree                57%    34%    80%    67%    54%    60%    54%    49%
Disagree             36     57     17     27     39     33     38     44
DK/NA                 7     10      4      6      7      7      8      8
 
                     AGE IN YRS..............    WHITE.....
                     18-34  35-49  50-64  65+    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp
 
Agree                69%    58%    51%    54%    50%    53%    51%    72%    61%
Disagree             25     35     42     38     43     38     41     26     32
DK/NA                 6      7      7      8      7      9      8      2      7
 
                     RELIGION.................
                     Wht                         ATTEND SRVCS
                     Evang  Prot   Cath   None   Weekly Less
 
Agree                29%    48%    55%    78%    34%    65%
Disagree             61     44     38     18     60     28
DK/NA                10      7      7      4      6      7
21. Suppose Roe v. Wade is overturned and the issue of abortion is left up to the states. In Texas, do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases? 
                                                               WHITE......
                                                               COLLEGE DEG
                     Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Yes    No
 
Legal all cases      21%     6%    39%    25%    17%    25%    20%    16%
Legal most cases     33     23     39     40     32     34     31     31
Illegal most cases   29     45     13     25     35     24     35     36
Illegal all cases    12     21      5      6     12     11      9     15
DK/NA                 5      5      4      5      4      5      5      3
 
                     AGE IN YRS..............    WHITE.....
                     18-34  35-49  50-64  65+    Men    Wom    Wht    Blk    Hsp
 
Legal all cases      32%    22%    16%    19%    14%    21%    18%    34%    23%
Legal most cases     37     31     31     35     31     31     31     37     34
Illegal most cases   23     33     32     27     41     30     35     16     25
Illegal all cases     8      8     16     13      9     15     12      7     12
DK/NA                 -      6      5      6      5      2      4      6      6
 
                     RELIGION.................
                     Wht                         ATTEND SRVCS
                     Evang  Prot   Cath   None   Weekly Less
 
Legal all cases       6%    17%    20%    33%    12%    24%
Legal most cases     19     31     31     39     23     36
Illegal most cases   51     36     29     19     36     27
Illegal all cases    20     14     13      7     22      8
DK/NA                 4      3      7      2      7      4

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