Texas Lawmakers Pass Ban on DEI Programs at State Universities

Audra D. S. Burch for The New York Times reports that a day before the Texas legislative session ended, state lawmakers approved a ban on offices and programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion at publicly funded colleges and universities. In related news, an analysis by the Associated Pressfound that at least 30 proposed bills in about a dozen states this year were aimed at ending diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in colleges and universities. If the bill is signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, DEI programming at public colleges and universities will be required to shut down in about six months.

Women Who Support Trump Cite Party, Economy Over Sexual Misconduct

The Washington Post’s Colby Itkowitz recounts her conversations with women Trump-voters who shrugged off the verdict in the E. Jean Carroll case. Most of the swing-state voters interviewed — even those who expressed disdain for Trump’s behavior — said they’d support Trump if the election were held today between Trump and Biden. Speaking to Itkowitz, Melissa Deckman, Ph.D., CEO of Public Religion Research Institute, said, “I do think that after the Access Hollywood tape, where he was literally saying it was okay to sexually abuse women, if that didn’t move the needle, I don’t think the E. Jean Carroll verdict will.”

More Latino Americans Are Losing Their Religion

At The New Yorker, Paul Elie writes that data from PRRI’s newest survey on the health of religious congregations is significant for understanding the opinions of American Hispanic Catholics. While Hispanic Catholics are more optimistic about the future of their church than white Catholics, Elie observes that “Hispanics are actually the group within the Catholic Church in the U.S. most eager for change.” Of all the groups PRRI surveyed, only Hispanic Catholics had a majority (56%) that wished for more leaders of color; Hispanic Catholics also had the most support for more women leaders (64%) and LGBTQ leaders (39%).

Understanding Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders and Their Views

PRRI Research Associate Madelyn Snodgrass published a new Spotlight Analysis on key demographics of AAPI Americans and their stances on social issues in honor of AAPI Heritage Month. According to the 2020 Census, today Asian Americans account for 6.2% of the U.S. population, which is more than 20 million Americans. More than eight in ten AAPI Americans (82%) favor laws that protect LGBTQ people from discrimination, aligning closely with all Americans on the issue (80%). AAPI Americans are more likely than all Americans to believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases (74% vs. 64%, respectively). AAPI Americans are also the most likely to completely reject Christian nationalism (43% vs. 31% of Hispanic Americans, 30% of white Americans, 26% of multiracial Americans, and 21% of Black Americans).

What’s Buzzing?

Read PRRI’s latest spotlight “Understanding Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders and Their Views” here.