Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg is drawing intrigue for his identity as a gay Episcopalian, a combination that may not fit stereotypes of religion and politics but really isn't unique at all.
Polling shows a majority of gay Americans identify as religious, close to half as Christian. Yet our political discourse more often tries to pit religious believers against the LGBTQ community in a false narrative. With the Supreme Court's announcement that they will hear arguments on three cases on discrimination protections for gender identity and sexual orientation this fall, this perception will only grow more extreme. But the debate over gay rights is not a zero-sum game; we can have public policy that reflects respect both for LGBTQ rights and religious freedom.
Buttigieg recently explained while speaking about religion and sexuality, "If me being gay was a choice, it was a choice that was made far, far above my pay grade." It's high time our laws reflect the reality that religion and homosexuality are not mutually exclusive and indeed often both exist as core aspects of personal identity within the same individuals.
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