Poll Tracks Dramatic Rise In Support for Gay Marriage

[brooklynite]

Source: ABC News

Support for gay marriage reached a new high in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll, marking a dramatic change in public attitudes on the subject across the past decade. Fifty-eight percent of Americans now say it should be legal for gay and lesbian couples to wed.

That number has grown sharply in ABC News/Washington Post polls, from a low of 32 percent in a 2004 survey of registered voters, advancing to a narrow majority for the first time only two years ago, and now up again to a significant majority for the first time.

Most Americans, moreover, say the U.S. Constitution should trump state laws on gay marriage, a question now before the U.S. Supreme Court. And – in another fundamental shift – just 24 percent now see homosexuality as a choice, down from 40 percent nearly 20 years ago. It’s a view that closely relates to opinions on the legality of same-sex marriage.

Intensity of sentiment about gay marriage also shows considerable change in this poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates. In 2004, strong opponents outnumbered strong supporters by a broad 34 percentage points. Today strong supporters are ascendant, outnumbering strong opponents by 11 points.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/03/poll-tracks-dramatic-rise-in-support-for-gay-marriage/

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Or, as the Republicans would say: "Intolerance for Religious Beliefs hits an all time high..."

[iandhr]

1. Another small step toward progress.

[onehandle]

2. A majority of Catholics support gay marriage, so it has little to do with religion. nt

[brooklynite]

3. Support for marriage equality has no basis in Religion. OPPOSITION definitely does.

[Ms. Toad]

10. Really?

Are you aware that many faith communities marry same gender couples who are part of their community? I was married in my faith community in 1994. Still waiting for the law to catch up and recognize my marriage.

You might want to read this brief, in support of overturning DOMA. It does a pretty good job of articulating the position of faith based communities which support marriage equality. http://sblog.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Perry-Religion-Brief.pdf

Amici curiae (“Amici”) represent a broad range of religious groups, organizations, and leaders who
support equal treatment for same-sex couples with respect to state-regulated civil marriage. While Amici come from faiths that have approached issues affecting lesbian and gay people and their families in different ways over the years, they are united in the belief that, in our vastly diverse and pluralistic society, particular religious views or definitions of marriage should not be permitted to influence who the state permits to marry or how legally married couples are treated by the federal government. Such rights must be determined by religiously neutral principles of equal protection under the law.

[brooklynite]

11. You misunderstood my post

What I was saying is that support for marriage equality comes from both secular and religious people but that opposition is strictly religious.

[Ms. Toad]

12. Thanks for the clarification -

I'll have to think about that one. It certainly is primarily religious, at any rate..

[gopiscrap]

15. I think for many disingenuous folks oppostition

was expressed behind the shield of religion. Many employers don't give a fuck about what the xchurch says on any issue, just what it will cost them in raw dollars and cents. Approving gay marriage raises the costs of those who provide benefits. Also just in terms of work productivity when one has a family if there is illness there is a higher likelyhood of employee absentism to care for a family member. As far as I am concerned aboiut the employers concerns: tough shit...that's the cost of being part of a civilized society..it does annoy me when I see fuckers using religion as a shield to be a bunch of cheap assholes.

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. That's a non-sequitur. And it's wrong, anyway; it's the most common reason for opposition

Religion Big Factor for Americans Against Same-Sex Marriage

Americans who oppose the legalization of same-sex marriage, 46% of the adult population, are most likely to explain their position on the basis of religious beliefs and/or interpretation of biblical passages dealing with same-sex relations.



http://www.gallup.com/poll/159089/religion-major-factor-americans-opposed-sex-marriage.aspx

[Arugula Latte]

4. Good news is rare. This is wonderful!

[Enrique]

5. and it's all because of Rob Portman

thanks Rob!

[hrmjustin]

6. Joyous news!!!

Now hopefully more states will follow my state of NY.

[hibbing]

7. It will keep growing

Hi,
Thanks for posting this. Once again, as so many times previously, conservatives will be on the wrong side of history.

It is pretty pathetic when a senator changes his mind only after his own son comes out to him. Oh, it is fine to discriminate and be against equality and....oh whoops, my son is gay? Well THAT changes everything entirely.

Peace

[Arugula Latte]

8. Also, the hardcore truth is that every day more and more "antis" just die off

(in addition to people changing their minds, etc.)

[AndyA]

9. Agree with you on all points.

Support for gay marriage will continue to grow to the point where it's a non-issue for all but a small minority.

I got attacked for not showering Portman with love for changing his mind on gay marriage. I was told I was hurting the cause. Finally, I reminded everyone that Portman still thinks states ought to have a say in the matter, and he's against the SCOTUS deciding that being gay is a right. So, he still has a way to go. (Plus his stance on other social issues is horrendous.)

I'm glad to know that others still see this man for what he is, and as is so typical with Republicans, they're against something until it impacts them personally, then they have a revelation.

[obama2terms]

13. This makes me so happy

I hope SCOTUS takes this number into account when deciding on the DOMA and Prop. 8 cases in June!