Religious people are more positive towards homosexual people than is claimed by conservative faith leaders, a report out today says.

According to academics at Leeds University, faith leaders are failing to reflect what the people in the pews really think about gays.

The report Love Thy Neighbour, commissioned by the gay rights lobby group Stonewall, says that Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Christian believers are “significantly more moderate” in their views on homosexuality than is often alleged on their behalf.

The research has been published deliberately to coincide with the Lambeth Conference, the 10-yearly meeting of 650 Anglican bishops from around the world, at Canterbury, Kent. About 230 conservative and traditionalist bishops have boycotted the conference because of the Anglican Communion's move in a pro-gay liberal direction, marked by the 2003 consecration in the US of the Right Rev Gene Robinson, the openly gay bishop of New Hampshire.

In spite of attempts by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, to keep homosexuality as low down the agenda as possible, the subject is likely to dominate the conference. Bishop Robinson is not invited to the conference but is in Canterbury attending fringe events. On Wednesday, the US lobby group Integrity will release a video showing real-life stories of African gay Christians.

The report says: “When the perceived tension between faith and sexual orientation is discussed in public, the agenda often becomes so dominated by aggression and sensationalism that levels of respect between faith communities and gay communities are overlooked.”

Ben Summerskill, the Stonewall chief executive, said: “Witnessing the tragic divisions in the Church of England demonstrated at this week's Lambeth Conference, it's telling that so many people of faith say they actually live, work and socialise with lesbian and gay people, and that significantly reduces negative ideas about difference.

“Many Christians, Jews, Muslims and Hindus are clearly markedly more moderate that we are often allowed to believe. The stark conclusion to draw when it comes to religion and homosexuality is that it may be time to start listening to the voices of the many people of faith in Britain which have until now not been heard enough.”

Those interviewed for the report said that new legal protections for lesbian and gay people, including civil partnerships, have had a “civilising effect” on British society. The increased acceptance of gay people on a national and political level has also had a positive impact on attitudes at a local level, they said.

Last year a YouGov survey of 2,000 people published by Stonewall found that 84 per cent of people who identified as religious disagreed with the statement “homosexuality is morally unacceptable in all circumstances”. Interviewees suggested that organisations working towards community cohesion should make more effort to listen to all people of faith, not just religious leaders.

Catherine, 58, a Christian, told researchers: “It isn't, in my opinion, the Church's role to say to gays and lesbians: ‘You're not welcome, you can't serve God and you can't be a Christian.' That just doesn't make any sense to me at all.”

Nadish, 60, a Hindu, said: “Everybody has got the right to live life in his own way ... so if somebody is lesbian or homosexual, it's entirely up to them.”

Husna, 24, a Muslim, said: “I've come across some gay people and I think I have changed my opinion. I have worked with these people. They're really, really nice people ... they are people.”

Janet, 20, Jewish, said: “One gay man is from a very orthodox religious family and his family are fine with it and, you know, it was a bit of gossip, like people did talk about it, but now everyone's fine with it. And they've got boyfriends and it's fine.”