The Satan Census (Satan Survey 3)

Satan Survey III

Dear Sir/Madam:

I am conducting questionnaire research on contemporary Satanism. The current phase of my research builds on prior work that was published ten years ago as “Who Serves Satan? A Demographic and Ideological Profile.” This earlier article can be found online at the Marburg Journal of Religion website: (http://www.uni-marburg.de/fb03/ivk/mjr/pdfs/2001/articles/lewis2001.pdf).

I also conducted a second survey ('Satan Survey Two,' or SS-II) two years ago that has not yet been fully reported. I have to confess that some of the items in the second questionnaire were ill-designed. If you responded to SS-II, you will find that many of the items from that questionnaire have been repeated here.

If you would like to participate in this research, please complete the following questionnaire (SS-III). Unless you otherwise identify yourself, your answers will be completely anonymous. Initial findings from this questionnaire will be reported at the "Satanism in Western Culture" conference, to be held in Stockholm, 25-27 September 2011. (http://www.erg.su.se/pub/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=16068)

This survey builds on earlier studies of other kinds of groups (hence questions that may otherwise seem completely irrelevant to Satanism). Yet other comparisons are drawn from the General Social Survey (GSS), which permits comparisons with the more general population (some GSS items are actually quite odd--such as a question about human sacrifice). This has resulted in the survey being rather long--so I deeply appreciate your taking the time to complete it.

Categories found in questionnaires like this one frequently do not do justice to the complexities of real life. For this reason, a number of open-ended items have been included that allow for more nuanced responses. You are also welcome to contact me directly at james.lewis@tsd.ac.uk

Please inform other Satanists about this research project and feel free to pass it along via e-mail or to post a link on appropriate blogs and websites.

Thanks for your help.

James R. Lewis
(james.lewis@uit.no)

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1. Country of Birth (and State if born in the United States).

	Country	State
Birthplace	Birthplace Country menu	Birthplace State menu

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2. Country of current residence (and State if living in the United States).

	Country	State
Residence	Residence Country menu	Residence State menu

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3. Are you currently a citizen or resident of the United States? (This is a filter question that enables me to handily create a subset to compare with U.S. population averages.)

Yes

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4. Year of birth

Year

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5. Biological Sex

Male

Female

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6. Sexual Orientation

Heterosexual

Lesbian

Gay

Bisexual

Other (please specify)

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7. Current Marital Status

Single; Never Married

Live with life partner

Committed Relationship

Married Legally

Divorced

Separated

Widowed

Divorced and Remarried

Widowed and Remarried

Other (please specify)

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8. Number of Children (please list 0 if you have none and include all your offspring whether minors or adults)

Children

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9. How many grandchildren do you have? (If you have none please list zero.)

Grandchildren

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10. If you have children, do/did you encourage your child/ren to be involved in Satanism?

Yes

Not relevant

Optional comments

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11. How many of your children (both minor and adult children) are Satanists?

Children

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12. How many of your children are under the age of 18?

Children

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13. Highest Degree (Highest Level of Education Completed So Far)

Doctoral

Masters

Bachelors

Technical/Associates

One Year of College/University completed

Two Years of College/University completed, no degree

Three Years of College/University completed, no degree

High School Diploma

Less Than a High School Diploma

Other (please specify)

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14. If you are a student which of the following are you attending?

Graduate/Post-graduate

Medical/Law School

Seminary

University/College

Technical Training

High School/Pre-college

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15. If you went to (or are currently attending) college/university, what was (is) your primary field of study?

None

Foreign Language

Fine Arts

Theater/drama/arts/film

Humanities

Psychology

Social Science; Other Social Study

Mathematics

Natural Science

Computer Science/Information Science

Business; Economics

Education

ethnic studies

Engineering

Women's Studies

religion

Other Vocational

Specific Major:

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16. Years of military service (please list 0 if you have not been or are not now in the military).

Years in the military

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17. Which most closely describes your current home neighborhood?

Secluded rural

Rural community

Small town

Large town

Metropolitan area

Suburb

Other (please specify)

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18. Political Orientation (I am aware that these categories are slanted to the U.S. system, but I haven't been able to devise a more generic set of options.)

Non-Political

Libertarian

Anarchist

Green

Socialist

Left-Liberal

Independent

Right-Conservative

Far Right

Other

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19. Political Activities

	Never	Occasionally	Sometimes	Frequently	Very Frequently
Vote	Vote Never	Vote Occasionally	Vote Sometimes	Vote Frequently	Vote Very Frequently
Sign Petitions	Sign Petitions Never	Sign Petitions Occasionally	Sign Petitions Sometimes	Sign Petitions Frequently	Sign Petitions Very Frequently
Participate in special events (e.g., marches, rallies)	Participate in special events (e.g., marches, rallies) Never	Participate in special events (e.g., marches, rallies) Occasionally	Participate in special events (e.g., marches, rallies) Sometimes	Participate in special events (e.g., marches, rallies) Frequently	Participate in special events (e.g., marches, rallies) Very Frequently
Participate in grassroots organizing	Participate in grassroots organizing Never	Participate in grassroots organizing Occasionally	Participate in grassroots organizing Sometimes	Participate in grassroots organizing Frequently	Participate in grassroots organizing Very Frequently
Participate intown meetings, hearings, forums and open meetings.	Participate intown meetings, hearings, forums and open meetings. Never	Participate intown meetings, hearings, forums and open meetings. Occasionally	Participate intown meetings, hearings, forums and open meetings. Sometimes	Participate intown meetings, hearings, forums and open meetings. Frequently	Participate intown meetings, hearings, forums and open meetings. Very Frequently
Serve as active campaigner	Serve as active campaigner Never	Serve as active campaigner Occasionally	Serve as active campaigner Sometimes	Serve as active campaigner Frequently	Serve as active campaigner Very Frequently
Serve as active lobbyist	Serve as active lobbyist Never	Serve as active lobbyist Occasionally	Serve as active lobbyist Sometimes	Serve as active lobbyist Frequently	Serve as active lobbyist Very Frequently
Serve as active spokesperson for causes of personal concern	Serve as active spokesperson for causes of personal concern Never	Serve as active spokesperson for causes of personal concern Occasionally	Serve as active spokesperson for causes of personal concern Sometimes	Serve as active spokesperson for causes of personal concern Frequently	Serve as active spokesperson for causes of personal concern Very Frequently
Hold or have held public office	Hold or have held public office Never	Hold or have held public office Occasionally	Hold or have held public office Sometimes	Hold or have held public office Frequently	Hold or have held public office Very Frequently
Call, write, and/or email national legislators	Call, write, and/or email national legislators Never	Call, write, and/or email national legislators Occasionally	Call, write, and/or email national legislators Sometimes	Call, write, and/or email national legislators Frequently	Call, write, and/or email national legislators Very Frequently
Call, write, and/or email local government	Call, write, and/or email local government Never	Call, write, and/or email local government Occasionally	Call, write, and/or email local government Sometimes	Call, write, and/or email local government Frequently	Call, write, and/or email local government Very Frequently
Give money to a political party either as membership fee or donation	Give money to a political party either as membership fee or donation Never	Give money to a political party either as membership fee or donation Occasionally	Give money to a political party either as membership fee or donation Sometimes	Give money to a political party either as membership fee or donation Frequently	Give money to a political party either as membership fee or donation Very Frequently

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20. Did you vote in the last local election?

Yes

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21. Did you vote in the last national election?

Yes

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22. Please indicate your opinion on the following social issues using the scale below:
6 - Very strong agreement with statement
5 - Agreement with statement
4 - Qualified agreement with statement
3 - No opinion about statement
2 - Qualified disagreement with statement
1 - Disagreement with statement
0 - Very strong disagreement with statement

	0	1	2	3	4	5	6
Women should not be included in a military draft.	Women should not be included in a military draft. 0	Women should not be included in a military draft. 1	Women should not be included in a military draft. 2	Women should not be included in a military draft. 3	Women should not be included in a military draft. 4	Women should not be included in a military draft. 5	Women should not be included in a military draft. 6
Same-sex marriages should be legal.	Same-sex marriages should be legal. 0	Same-sex marriages should be legal. 1	Same-sex marriages should be legal. 2	Same-sex marriages should be legal. 3	Same-sex marriages should be legal. 4	Same-sex marriages should be legal. 5	Same-sex marriages should be legal. 6
To redress previous discrimination, there should be preferential hiring of women at all levels of employment.	To redress previous discrimination, there should be preferential hiring of women at all levels of employment. 0	To redress previous discrimination, there should be preferential hiring of women at all levels of employment. 1	To redress previous discrimination, there should be preferential hiring of women at all levels of employment. 2	To redress previous discrimination, there should be preferential hiring of women at all levels of employment. 3	To redress previous discrimination, there should be preferential hiring of women at all levels of employment. 4	To redress previous discrimination, there should be preferential hiring of women at all levels of employment. 5	To redress previous discrimination, there should be preferential hiring of women at all levels of employment. 6
Women in the military forces should be included in combat positions.	Women in the military forces should be included in combat positions. 0	Women in the military forces should be included in combat positions. 1	Women in the military forces should be included in combat positions. 2	Women in the military forces should be included in combat positions. 3	Women in the military forces should be included in combat positions. 4	Women in the military forces should be included in combat positions. 5	Women in the military forces should be included in combat positions. 6
Non-discrimination on the basis of sexual preference should be part of any civil rights legislation.	Non-discrimination on the basis of sexual preference should be part of any civil rights legislation. 0	Non-discrimination on the basis of sexual preference should be part of any civil rights legislation. 1	Non-discrimination on the basis of sexual preference should be part of any civil rights legislation. 2	Non-discrimination on the basis of sexual preference should be part of any civil rights legislation. 3	Non-discrimination on the basis of sexual preference should be part of any civil rights legislation. 4	Non-discrimination on the basis of sexual preference should be part of any civil rights legislation. 5	Non-discrimination on the basis of sexual preference should be part of any civil rights legislation. 6
The right to religious freedom should not include human sacrifice.	The right to religious freedom should not include human sacrifice. 0	The right to religious freedom should not include human sacrifice. 1	The right to religious freedom should not include human sacrifice. 2	The right to religious freedom should not include human sacrifice. 3	The right to religious freedom should not include human sacrifice. 4	The right to religious freedom should not include human sacrifice. 5	The right to religious freedom should not include human sacrifice. 6
Marijuana should be legally available on the same basis as alcohol or tobacco.	Marijuana should be legally available on the same basis as alcohol or tobacco. 0	Marijuana should be legally available on the same basis as alcohol or tobacco. 1	Marijuana should be legally available on the same basis as alcohol or tobacco. 2	Marijuana should be legally available on the same basis as alcohol or tobacco. 3	Marijuana should be legally available on the same basis as alcohol or tobacco. 4	Marijuana should be legally available on the same basis as alcohol or tobacco. 5	Marijuana should be legally available on the same basis as alcohol or tobacco. 6
Homosexuals should be excluded from the military.	Homosexuals should be excluded from the military. 0	Homosexuals should be excluded from the military. 1	Homosexuals should be excluded from the military. 2	Homosexuals should be excluded from the military. 3	Homosexuals should be excluded from the military. 4	Homosexuals should be excluded from the military. 5	Homosexuals should be excluded from the military. 6
Polygamy should be legal	Polygamy should be legal 0	Polygamy should be legal 1	Polygamy should be legal 2	Polygamy should be legal 3	Polygamy should be legal 4	Polygamy should be legal 5	Polygamy should be legal 6
Homosexuals should be allowed to adopt children on an equal basis with heterosexuals	Homosexuals should be allowed to adopt children on an equal basis with heterosexuals 0	Homosexuals should be allowed to adopt children on an equal basis with heterosexuals 1	Homosexuals should be allowed to adopt children on an equal basis with heterosexuals 2	Homosexuals should be allowed to adopt children on an equal basis with heterosexuals 3	Homosexuals should be allowed to adopt children on an equal basis with heterosexuals 4	Homosexuals should be allowed to adopt children on an equal basis with heterosexuals 5	Homosexuals should be allowed to adopt children on an equal basis with heterosexuals 6

Comment (optional)

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23. Do you believe there should be legal access to abortion?

Yes

If so, should there by any restrictions regarding age of woman, length of pregnancy, or other circumstances? (please specify)

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24. Should the government cover the expense of sending one's child to day care/pre-school?

Fully

Partially

Other (please specify)

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25. To what extent should the government cover the health care expenses of its citizens?

All medical expenses

Certain medical expenses

No medical expenses

Other

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26. To what extent should the government cover the higher education expenses (tuition, books, and the like) of its citizens?

Fully

Partially

None

Other (please specify)

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27. Assuming one is genuinely unable to find work, should the government provide some form of financial support for an unemployed citizen?

Fully

Partially

Other (please specify)

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28. Social Activism

Comments (optional)

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29. Occupation of your Primary Income-Earning Parent or Guardian when you were growing up.


Occupation	Occupation menu

Other

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30. Your Current Primary Occupation


Occupation	Occupation menu

Other

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31. Your Local Currency (this information is for the next question, Annual Income)


Currency:	Currency: menu

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32. Your Annual Income Before Taxes In Local Currency (NOTE: Leave out punctuation marks!):

Income

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33. What is your race and/or ethnic background?

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34. What religion(s)/religious denomination(s) or spiritual paths were you raised in or Religion of Parents/Guardian? Please check all that are appropriate.

None

Hindu

Buddhist

Muslim

Sikh

Jain

Baha'i

Chinese Traditional

Jewish

Catholic

Orthodox (Eastern Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, etc.)

Protestant

Christian

Pagan

Satanist

Other

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35. If Protestant, what was your Denomination or the Denomination of your Parents/Guardian?


Denomination	Denomination menu

Other (please specify)

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36. Number of years since you became aware of--and interested in--Satanism.

Years

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37. How many years have you been a self-identified Satanist? (This can be the same as your answer to the prior question.)

Years

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38. How did you initially become involved? Specifically, what was your initial point of contact?

Friend

Co-Worker

Partner/Spouse

Relative

Website

Book

TV or Movie

Flyer; Poster

Student group

In prison

Other

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39. If you have a mate or spouse, how does s/he relate to your participation in Satanism?

Not relevant (no mate/spouse)

Completely shares your orientation

Partly shares your orientation

Does not share, but is sympathetic

Does not share, but is tolerant/indifferent

Does not share and is antagonistic

Does not know

If your partner is not a Satanist, what is her or his philosophical/spiritual/religious orientation?

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40. How often do you meet with other participants for ritual or "religious" purposes?

Daily or almost daily

Weekly

Monthly

Yearly

Never or almost never

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41. How often do you meet with other participants for social (non-ritual/non-religious) purposes?

Daily or Almost Daily

Weekly

Monthly

Yearly

Never or Almost Never

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42. How often do you communicate with other Satanists?

	Daily	Weekly	Monthly	Yearly	Never
In Person:	In Person: Daily	In Person: Weekly	In Person: Monthly	In Person: Yearly	In Person: Never
By Telephone:	By Telephone: Daily	By Telephone: Weekly	By Telephone: Monthly	By Telephone: Yearly	By Telephone: Never
Public Internet - Blogs, Message Boards, Etc.:	Public Internet - Blogs, Message Boards, Etc.: Daily	Public Internet - Blogs, Message Boards, Etc.: Weekly	Public Internet - Blogs, Message Boards, Etc.: Monthly	Public Internet - Blogs, Message Boards, Etc.: Yearly	Public Internet - Blogs, Message Boards, Etc.: Never
Private Internet - E-mails, Private Messages, Etc.:	Private Internet - E-mails, Private Messages, Etc.: Daily	Private Internet - E-mails, Private Messages, Etc.: Weekly	Private Internet - E-mails, Private Messages, Etc.: Monthly	Private Internet - E-mails, Private Messages, Etc.: Yearly	Private Internet - E-mails, Private Messages, Etc.: Never

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43. Please list any thinkers who have been especially influential for you.

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44. Please list any Websites, Blogs, or Internet groups that have been particularly influential for you. Do you continue to visit any of these on a regular basis?

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45. Which best describes your view of the Afterlife?

No afterlife. No individual, personal afterlife of any kind

Some part of the person survives and merges into the cosmos

Reincarnation

Conscious survival of the soul/self in some other realm

Other (please specify)

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46. How often have you had any of the following experiences? [1] Never in my life; [2] Once or twice; [3] Several times; [4] Often; [5] I cannot answer this question

	1	2	3	4	5
Thought you were somewhere you had been before, but knew that it was impossible.	Thought you were somewhere you had been before, but knew that it was impossible. 1	Thought you were somewhere you had been before, but knew that it was impossible. 2	Thought you were somewhere you had been before, but knew that it was impossible. 3	Thought you were somewhere you had been before, but knew that it was impossible. 4	Thought you were somewhere you had been before, but knew that it was impossible. 5
Felt as though you were in touch with someone when they were far away from you.	Felt as though you were in touch with someone when they were far away from you. 1	Felt as though you were in touch with someone when they were far away from you. 2	Felt as though you were in touch with someone when they were far away from you. 3	Felt as though you were in touch with someone when they were far away from you. 4	Felt as though you were in touch with someone when they were far away from you. 5
Seen events that happened at a great distance as they were happening.	Seen events that happened at a great distance as they were happening. 1	Seen events that happened at a great distance as they were happening. 2	Seen events that happened at a great distance as they were happening. 3	Seen events that happened at a great distance as they were happening. 4	Seen events that happened at a great distance as they were happening. 5
Felt as though you were really in touch with someone who had died.	Felt as though you were really in touch with someone who had died. 1	Felt as though you were really in touch with someone who had died. 2	Felt as though you were really in touch with someone who had died. 3	Felt as though you were really in touch with someone who had died. 4	Felt as though you were really in touch with someone who had died. 5
Felt as though you were very close to a powerful, spiritual force that seemed to lift you out of yourself.	Felt as though you were very close to a powerful, spiritual force that seemed to lift you out of yourself. 1	Felt as though you were very close to a powerful, spiritual force that seemed to lift you out of yourself. 2	Felt as though you were very close to a powerful, spiritual force that seemed to lift you out of yourself. 3	Felt as though you were very close to a powerful, spiritual force that seemed to lift you out of yourself. 4	Felt as though you were very close to a powerful, spiritual force that seemed to lift you out of yourself. 5
Received prophecy, visions, or messages from the spirit world.	Received prophecy, visions, or messages from the spirit world. 1	Received prophecy, visions, or messages from the spirit world. 2	Received prophecy, visions, or messages from the spirit world. 3	Received prophecy, visions, or messages from the spirit world. 4	Received prophecy, visions, or messages from the spirit world. 5

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47. What is your view of magic?

Nothing more than human psychology

Magic taps an impersonal force; this force is not supernatural.

Magic involves tapping "spiritual"/"supernatural" energies/entities that in some way transcend the ordinary material world

Other (please specify)

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48. Other religions/spiritual paths involved in, either now or in the past. Please distinguish between current and past involvements.

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49. Would you say that Astrology is very scientific, sort of scientific, or not at all scientific?

Very scientific

Sort of scientific

Not at all scientific

Don't know

	Yes	No
Would you consider yourself an environmentalist?	Would you consider yourself an environmentalist? Yes	Would you consider yourself an environmentalist? No
Do you regularly recycle?	Do you regularly recycle? Yes	Do you regularly recycle? No
Have you ever participated in a demonstration for an environmental cause?	Have you ever participated in a demonstration for an environmental cause? Yes	Have you ever participated in a demonstration for an environmental cause? No
Have you ever given money to an environmental group?	Have you ever given money to an environmental group? Yes	Have you ever given money to an environmental group? No
Have you ever signed a petition for environmental reform?	Have you ever signed a petition for environmental reform? Yes	Have you ever signed a petition for environmental reform? No
In voting for elected officals do you consider their stance on the environment?	In voting for elected officals do you consider their stance on the environment? Yes	In voting for elected officals do you consider their stance on the environment? No
Would you consider yourself a feminist?	Would you consider yourself a feminist? Yes	Would you consider yourself a feminist? No
Have you ever participated in a demonstration for women's rights or reproductive rights	Have you ever participated in a demonstration for women's rights or reproductive rights Yes	Have you ever participated in a demonstration for women's rights or reproductive rights No
Have you ever signed a petition for gender rights or reproductive rights?	Have you ever signed a petition for gender rights or reproductive rights? Yes	Have you ever signed a petition for gender rights or reproductive rights? No
Have you ever given money to a group that advocates for women's rights or reproductive rights?	Have you ever given money to a group that advocates for women's rights or reproductive rights? Yes	Have you ever given money to a group that advocates for women's rights or reproductive rights? No
Do you consider a politician's stance on gender equity issues when voting?	Do you consider a politician's stance on gender equity issues when voting? Yes	Do you consider a politician's stance on gender equity issues when voting? No
Would you consider yourself a gay rights advocate?	Would you consider yourself a gay rights advocate? Yes	Would you consider yourself a gay rights advocate? No
Have you ever participated in a demonstration for gay rights?	Have you ever participated in a demonstration for gay rights? Yes	Have you ever participated in a demonstration for gay rights? No
Have you ever signed a petition for gay rights?	Have you ever signed a petition for gay rights? Yes	Have you ever signed a petition for gay rights? No
Have you ever given money to a gay rights organization?	Have you ever given money to a gay rights organization? Yes	Have you ever given money to a gay rights organization? No
Do you consider a politician's stance on gay rights when casting your ballot?	Do you consider a politician's stance on gay rights when casting your ballot? Yes	Do you consider a politician's stance on gay rights when casting your ballot? No
Would you consider youself an animal rights advocate?	Would you consider youself an animal rights advocate? Yes	Would you consider youself an animal rights advocate? No
Have you ever participated in a demonstration of animal rights?	Have you ever participated in a demonstration of animal rights? Yes	Have you ever participated in a demonstration of animal rights? No
Have you ever donated money for animal rights?	Have you ever donated money for animal rights? Yes	Have you ever donated money for animal rights? No
Have you ever signed a petition for animal rights?	Have you ever signed a petition for animal rights? Yes	Have you ever signed a petition for animal rights? No