Religion has been a source of contention when it comes to the acceptance of the LGBT community, and Central Missouri is no exception. In recent years, civil rights have made it possible to question the relevance of minority stress in the health of LGBT people. Discussions in literature have explored the impact of the stigma of sexual identity in a world that is becoming increasingly accepting of sexual minorities. The Supreme Court has declared that religious organizations are exempt from Title VII, which prohibits employers, employment agencies, and unions from applying disparate treatment and maintaining policies or practices that have an unjustified disparate impact on the basis of religion.
This ruling has enabled religious business leaders to express their support for the rights of LGBTQ people while still adhering to their religious values or traditions. Progress in social acceptance and civil rights for LGB+ people has been seen around the world, though public opinion on homosexuality in society remains divided. In the United States, not all LGB+ people are able to benefit from these advances. Positive changes in the sociopolitical environment of LGB+ people in the United States have been demonstrated by growing social acceptance and advancement of civil rights.
However, experiences of LGB+ people in the South are often overlooked or absent from scholarship. It is essential to recognize that religion plays a role in the acceptance of LGBT people in Central Missouri. Religious business leaders must demonstrate their support for the rights of LGBTQ people while referring to their religious values or traditions. Advances in civil rights have made it possible for LGBT people to be accepted by society, but there is still work to be done to ensure that all LGBT people are treated equally.
