For the Second time, A national Poll shows a Majority of Americans Support the Freedom to Marry
PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 20, 2010
A narrow majority of Americans support allowing gay and lesbian couples
to marry, a new AP poll released Monday found.
to marry, a new AP poll released Monday found.
When asked, “Should the Federal Government give legal recognition to
marriages between couples of the same sex, or not?” 52 percent of
respondents answered “yes” and 46 percent responded “no.”
marriages between couples of the same sex, or not?” 52 percent of
respondents answered “yes” and 46 percent responded “no.”
A CNN survey released last month asked about gay marriage with two
different questions, but on average a slim majority (50.5%) of respondents
said they support the institution. It was the first nationwide survey with a majority favoring marriage equality.
different questions, but on average a slim majority (50.5%) of respondents
said they support the institution. It was the first nationwide survey with a majority favoring marriage equality.
“For the second time, a national poll shows that a majority of Americans
support the freedom to marry, reflecting the growing momentum of the
marriage movement and a growing awareness in America of who gay
people are and why marriage matters to same-sex couples and their
families,” Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry, said in a statement.
support the freedom to marry, reflecting the growing momentum of the
marriage movement and a growing awareness in America of who gay
people are and why marriage matters to same-sex couples and their
families,” Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry, said in a statement.
The nationwide telephone poll of 1,007 adults also found that 58
percent of respondents agree that gay and lesbian couples should be
entitled to the same government benefits as married couples of the
opposite sex, a 7 point increase from 2008.
percent of respondents agree that gay and lesbian couples should be
entitled to the same government benefits as married couples of the
opposite sex, a 7 point increase from 2008.
In another question, pollsters also found that a large majority (62%)
of those surveyed believe the “rights of everyone should be protected,
even when that means saying no to something the majority of people
want to happen.”
of those surveyed believe the “rights of everyone should be protected,
even when that means saying no to something the majority of people
want to happen.”
“Even in a moment in which most people are focused on the economy and unemployment, Americans are still speaking up for our country's core
values that the majority should not deny a minority its rights and that
we must uphold the Constitution's enduring promise of equal protection
for all,” Wolfson added.
values that the majority should not deny a minority its rights and that
we must uphold the Constitution's enduring promise of equal protection
for all,” Wolfson added.
Pollsters began their survey on August 11, a week after a federal judge
declared California's gay marriage ban, Proposition 8, unconstitutional.
The poll has a margin of error of 4.5 percentage points.
declared California's gay marriage ban, Proposition 8, unconstitutional.
The poll has a margin of error of 4.5 percentage points.
BY ON TOP MAGAZINE STAFF
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