Gallup: For the first time ever, Americans support marriage equality.

[JackBeck]

For First Time, Majority of Americans Favor Legal Gay Marriage
Republicans and older Americans remain opposed
by Frank Newport

PRINCETON, NJ -- For the first time in Gallup's tracking of the issue, a majority of Americans (53%) believe same-sex marriage should be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages. The increase since last year came exclusively among political independents and Democrats. Republicans' views did not change.



These results are based on Gallup's May 5-8 Values and Beliefs poll, which has tracked attitudes toward legalizing same-sex marriage each year since 2004, adding to Gallup's initial polling on the topic in 1996 and 1999.

This year's nine-point increase in support for same-sex marriage is the largest year-to-year shift yet measured over this time period. Two-thirds of Americans were opposed to legalized same-sex marriage in 1996, with 27% in favor. By 2004, support had risen to 42% and, despite some fluctuations from year to year, stayed at roughly that level through last year.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/147662/First-Time-Majority-Americans-Favor-Legal-Gay-Marriage.aspx

[RKP5637]

1. Great News!!! n/t

[JackBeck]

2. Gallup's poll follows the positive trends from other outlets:

http://surveys.ap.org/data/GfK/AP-GfK%20Poll%20August%20NCC%20topline.pdf">AP
August, 2010
F:52 O:46

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/slim-majority-back-gay-marriage-post-abc-poll-says/2011/03/17/ABhMc7o_story.html">Wash. Post/ABC
March, 2011
F:53 O:44

http://www.ontopmag.com/documents/cnn_gay_marriage_poll_2011.pdf">CNN
April, 2011
F:51 O:47

Gallup
May, 2011
F:53 O:45

[RKP5637]

4. Thanks!!! n/t

[Zorra]

3. _^_

[Zoeisright]

5. Now if Americans would only realize that civil rights should NOT be subject

to a vote. This is a constitutional republic, not a democracy. It's NOT "majority rules".

[struggle4progress]

6. At this rate, we might have filibuster-proof Senate majorities for marriage equality by 2022

and enough of the country behind equality by 2034 to enshrine equality in the constitution: I'm of course looking at 60% and 75% of the country support gay marriage

That based on 1996-2011. If we just use the last 5 years (2006-2011) the years are 2020 and 2031

[JackBeck]

9. DOMA needs to be overturned.

And then we can begin the process for recognition under the 14th Amendment.

Not sure yet how this will shake out as far as federal benefits are concerned, but I don't think there will ever be a constitutional amendment for marriage equality.

Maybe SCOTUS will weigh-in over the next 10 years, either because of Prop 8 or the NJ marriage lawsuit.

[struggle4progress]

10. I agree, though I might prefer to remove it only when public opinion can no longer produce a wave

of reactionary backlash at the state level

[Arugula Latte]

7. The "antis" just keep dying off and they're not being replaced at a significant rate.

I like those trendlines.

[tallahasseedem]

8. Then the legislation needs to be pushed through...

immediately!

[Ohio Joe]

11. I guess thats good news...

Not to put the news down but... Fuckin-A, that still means just under half the country does not feel we should all have equal rights. That is so fucking wrong.