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Laws in the United States recognize specific "protected classes" and create penalties for those who discriminate against people who are or are perceived to be in any of these classes. Some groups have started claiming that such laws require employers, landlords, pharmacists and other individuals to violate "sincerely held religious conviction" by forcing them to hire, rent to, serve or otherwise deal with people their religion rejects.
This survey seeks DU's opinions on whether it is more acceptable, equally acceptable or less acceptable for discrimination to be based on "sincerely held religious beliefs" when compared to discrimination which is not based on "sincerely held religious beliefs." For each type of discrimination enumerated below, please respond with one of these three options:
A. Discrimination which is based on religious conviction is more acceptable than discrimination which is not based on religious conviction.
B. Discrimination which is based on religious conviction is equally acceptable to discrimination which is not based on religious conviction.
C. Discrimination based on religious conviction is less acceptable than discrimination which is not based on religious conviction.
Please note that "acceptable" is relative to the two forms of discrimination, and is not meant to imply that any type of discrimination is or is not acceptable on its own.
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1. Discrimination on account of skin color (white, yellow, black, etc.)
2. Discrimination on account of ethnic background (Irish, Hispanic, Chinese, Native American, etc.)
3. Discrimination on account of religion (Catholic, Wiccan, Scientologist, Satanist, etc.)
4. Discrimination on account of gender (male, female, intersexed)
5. Discrimination on account of gender identity which does not match biological gender (transgendered)
6. Discrimination on account of economic status (poor, middle class, wealthy)
7. Discrimination on account of type of employment (garbage collector, teacher, lawyer, etc.)
8. Discrimination on account of sexual orientation (straight, gay, bisexual)
9. Discrimination on account of marrital status (single, married, divorced, separated, etc.)
10. Discrimination on account of physical relationships (single w/ live-in lover, polyamorous, etc.)
11. Discrimination on account of legal political activity (party affiliation, attendance at rallies, etc.)
12. Discrimination on account of personal views regarding abortion
13. Discrimination on account of personal views regarding same-sex marriage
14. Discrimination on account of personal views regarding US involvement in Iraq
15. Discrimination on account of personal views regarding the wall of separation between church and state
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