Pew Study: Muslims and Gays most discriminated in America
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Arsalan Iftikhar | BIO
AC360° Contributor
Founder, TheMuslimGuy.com
According to a recent September 2009 study completed by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, nearly six-in-ten American adults (58 percent) say “that Muslims are subject to a lot of discrimination in the United States; far more than say the same about Jews, evangelical Christians, atheists or Mormons…”
In fact, of all the minority demographic groups discussed in the September 2009 Pew Forum study, only “gays and lesbians are seen as facing more discrimination in America than Muslims”, with nearly two-thirds (64%) of the American public saying there is a lot of discrimination against homosexuals in the United States today.
Some of the other key results below from the September 2009 Pew Forum Study revolve around average Americans asked to finish this statement “There is a lot of discrimination against…”
According to the Pew Forum study, the top 5 responses were (in descending order):
– Gays and lesbians (64%)
– Muslims (58%)
– Hispanics (52%)
– Blacks (49%) and
– Women (37%)
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Filed under: Arsalan Iftikhar • Gay & Lesbian Issues • Islam |
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These numbrs are really sad!
Yet – there are still baby steps being accomplished everyday.
I still like to believe that America has the potential to change & treat everybody with respect & dignity.
I believe in Santa Clause too.
I don't buy it. Affirmative action policies discriminate every day against the average Christian white guy.
I don't think much of the survey – the only real conclusion you can draw from it is that everyone feels discriminated at some point in their life. Even White Anglo Saxon Protestant Males who aren't on the list!
Well, it would suck to be a muslim black gay woman. what a world!
It is time for love. hate is so primitive and a waste of time and energy.
peace~
While being gay or lesbian may or may not be obvious to all there are many areas where discrimination comes into play. Health care for one, even if it is giving as a domestic partner benefit, it is gone with the death of the benefit holder, as well it is taxed as computed income. Not to mention the lack of tax benefits that come with a legal federal marriage which everyone is able to enjoy except gay and lesbian couples.
Sonjanita Moore, discrimination is more than being taunted by other people because of a difference about you being visibly "obvious."
In 29 states in America, you can legally be fired from your job for being gay. In 36 states, you can still legally be kicked out of your apartment for being gay. Not to mention the 1138 Federal Rights that are denied of gay couples by not having the right to marry.
Generally, when one uses the term "America," it's shorthand for the "United States OF America," the formal name for our *country*. As for discrimination, when will we "get it"? If God wanted us all to be the same, there'd be no color, gender, or different religions. Again and again, we fail the test of tolerance by still not having learned how to respect one another's differences.
It's funny how our culture can still despise a committed realtionship more than we do members of the religion that is being used as a justification to attack us.
Wow, at least im not a gay muslim though, I bet there lives are a living hell.
"Muslims and Gays most discriminated in America"
América IS NOT a country.
As a gay in Tennessee... I agree fully with the findings. I fear for my safety on a daily basis. Maybe one day we will grow up.
I disagree with this survey results ... Surveys are as good as the intent of survey and questions asked. I think the survey questions are designed to sympathize with certain group.
As a black gay male I disagree. Many more doors are shut due to my skin color, than my orientation. Most people don't care about the gay issue. As we have seen recently with the overly enthusiastic push back against Obama-racism runs silent and deep in America.
They asked people who they think are the most discriminated against. So someone may not discriminate against Muslims but feel they are discriminated against by others. It would be more accurate to ask people questions about their views of Gays and Muslims to see what the actual statistics are.
I doubt being Muslim is obvious. Muslims are all over the Middle East and parts of Indonesia, and Africa. They're share similar physical appears as those who are Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Budhist, etc.. (example: not always easy to distinguish Indians from Pakistanis based on appearance).
Note that the question is whether the general population "says" that there is a lot of discrimination towards the minority group in question – it doesn't seem like an accurate indicator to me. Another way to read those numbers is to say that '51% of people do not believe there is a lot of discrimination towards African Americans." Whether there is discrimination towards African Americans, and whether people believe there is discrimination towards African Americans (or any of the above-mentioned groups) are two different things.
Are they saying that women are a "minority" group? They're 51% of the population.
Considering the extent to which people's views are shaped by the media, this study pretty much amounts to asking: "Who are you told is discriminated against the most?"
Of course, if you rightfully consider affirmative action to be discrimination, then White men are at the top of the victimization list.
Sure, only some gays and some Muslims are easy to identify, compared to Blacks, who can be identified by skin color. But I don't think they're talking about face-to-face behavior, but rather general attitudes and opinions that disadvantage different groups.
Wow I never thought I'd see the day when Blacks aren't seen as the group most discriminated against...I still find it hard to believe about Gays though...being gay isn't always something that's as obvious as being muslim or black.
Those who seek change from the standards set forth in the Twenieth Century .
Interesting to see how they come up with this revelation?? Probably spent millions of tax payer dollars to figure this out!