Although Carter was a devout Christian, a newly created evangelical group, the Moral Majority, was attacking his support for legalized abortion and a constitutional amendment to guarantee equal rights for women.
And the gays thank the Moral Majority. If they hadn't gotten there way, equal rights would have been for enumerated groups, rather than everyone.
Women were set back 10-20 years. Everyone else was brought along and breathed a sigh of relief.