Public opinion of same-sex marriage in the United States

Public opinion of same-sex marriage in the United States is a widely reported topic, with most recent polls showing majority support for legal recognition of same-sex marriage. Support has increased steadily for more than a decade, with supporters first achieving a majority in 2010.

When the Defense of Marriage Act was signed in 1996, only 25% of the American public supported same-sex marriage; support has increased gradually ever since. An August 2010 CNN poll became the first national poll to show majority support for same-sex marriage, with numerous polls after it showing majority support.

Support for same-sex marriage generally correlates with lack of religious fundamentalism, young age, Democratic Party affiliation, and residence in the Northeast and West Coast of the United States. Women are also more likely to be in support than men. Support fell temporarily among black Americans between 2001 and 2007, introducing a gap of around 10 percentage points compared to white Americans; support among both groups has increased steadily since 2007, although the gap remains.

Opposition to same-sex marriage is generally correlated with fundamental religious belief, older age, Republican Party affiliation, and residence in the Southeast and Midwest.

At the state level, polls show majority support in the Northeast and West Coast, and majority oppositon in the Midwest and South. As of February 2012, voters in 31 of 31 states that have put same-sex marriage up to a voter referendum have rejected it. California's Proposition 8, approved by voters in 2008, has been declared unconstitutional in federal court but is currently in litigation.

Polls

Polls in 2011

Public support for same-sex marriage continued to grow in 2011. In February and March, a Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey found about as many adults favored (45%) as opposed (46%) allowing same-sex couples to marry legally, compared to a 2009 Pew Research survey that found just 37% backed same-sex marriage while 54% opposed. In March and April, polls by Gallup, ABC News/Washington Post, and CNN/Opinion Research all showed that a majority of Americans approved of same-sex marriage.

As had been the case since 1996, there remained a wide partisan division. In March, Pew reported that 57% of Democrats favored legal recognition for same-sex marriage, and 51% of independents agreed, but only 23% of Republicans agreed. An April CNN/Opinion Research Poll showed majority support including 64% of Democrats and 55% of independents, but only 27% of Republicans.

In March 2011, Democracy Corps conducted a survey of 1,000 likely 2012 election voters in 50 congressional districts considered political battlegrounds. It asked respondents to rate their feelings on the same-sex marriage issue on a 0-100 scale, with 100 being "very warm" or favorable feelings, and 0 being "very cold" or unfavorable feelings. 42% were on the "cool" or unfavorable side, and 35% were on the "warm" or favorable side.

A May 2011 Gallup Poll also showed majority support for same-sex marriage, 53% in favor to 45% opposed. Gallup measured a 9-point increase in support, from 44% to 53%, indicating that support increased faster than in any previous year.

Polls in 2010

In 2010, national polls began to show majority support for same-sex marriage.

An August Associated Press/National Constitution Center poll found 52% agreed that the federal government should give legal recognition to marriages between couples of the same sex, an increase from 46% in 2009. 46% disagreed, compared to 53% in 2009.

An August CNN/Opinion Research Poll showed that 49% of respondents thought gays and lesbians do have a constitutional right to get married and have their marriage recognized by law as valid, and 52% thought gays and lesbians should have that right.

Earlier polls in February and May found opinion divided within the margin of error, but with a consistent trend of increasing support and decreasing opposition compared to prior years. One August poll found majority opposition, and a November exit poll of 17,504 voters by CNN during the 2010 midterm elections found 53% opposition with 41% support.

Polls in 2009

An April 30, 2009 ABC News/Washington Post poll found support for allowing same sex couples to marry in the United States ahead of opposition to it for the first time, with support at 49% and opposition at 46% while those with no opinion on the matter was at 5%. In addition, 53% believe that gay marriages performed in other states should be legal in their states. Among Democrats, 62% are in favor of gay marriage while 74% of Republicans are opposed with 52% of Independents in favor of gay marriage.

A national poll on same-sex marriage in the United States was conducted during April 22–26, 2009 by CBS/New York Times and found that 42% support marriage for same sex couples, 25% support full civil unions, and 28% oppose any legal recognition of same sex couples. 5% of respondents were unsure.

A USA Today/Gallup Poll conducted on May 7–10, 2009, however, finds support for allowing same sex couples to marry in the United States at only 40%, lower than it was in 2003, with 57% opposed to same-sex marriage. According to this poll, 48% of Americans feel that society would change for the worse if same sex marriage were legalized, the same percentage as a 2003 poll. The poll asked: "Which comes closest to your view? Gay couples should be allowed to legally marry. OR, Gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not legally marry. OR, There should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship."

	Legal Marriage	Civil Unions	No Legal Recognition	Unsure
All Respondents	42%	25%	28%	5%
Republicans	18%	31%	49%	2%
Democrats	52%	22%	21%	5%
Independents	43%	26%	25%	6%

A CBS News poll conducted from March 12–26, 2009 asked: "Which comes closest to your view? Gay couples should be allowed to legally marry. OR, Gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not legally marry. OR, There should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship."

	Legal marriage	Civil union	No recognition	Unsure
All political parties	33%	27%	35%	5%
Republicans	6%	34%	59%	1%
Democrats	46%	23%	26%	5%
Independents	37%	26%	30%	7%

Nate Silver noted that the discrepancy in support for same-sex marriage appears to result from 5-10% of respondents who favor civil unions over same-sex marriage, but given only two choices, will support same-sex marriage.

A LifeWay Research poll conducted in August 2009 found that 61% of Americans born between 1980 and 1991 see nothing wrong with two people of the same gender getting married while 39% disagree. The survey was conducted on a demographically representative survey of 1,200 U.S. adults between 18 and 29 years old.

Polls in 2006-2008

In a poll conducted on July 17, 2008, by Quinnipiac University, with 55 percent opposed, and 36 percent in favor. An ABC News poll found that the majority (58%) of Americans remained opposed to same-sex marriages, while the minority (36%) support them. However, on the question of a constitutional amendment, more are now opposed than for it. The majority (51%) of Americans say the issue should be left for the states to decide, while 43% would agree with amending the Constitution.

When asked about the legal status, a July 2008 poll by Quinnipiac University revealed that 32% of respondents would allow homosexual partners to legally marry, 33% would permit them to form civil unions, and 29% would grant them no legal recognition. A December 2008 poll revealed that 32% of respondents support the concept of civil unions, 31% would offer full marriage rights to same-sex couples, and 30% oppose any legal recognition for gay and lesbian partnerships.

Prior to this poll, Gallup conducted a poll on the issue through May 2006. The poll found opposition to same-sex marriage had fallen slightly, as other polls found a sharper dip. In the poll, when asked if marriages between homosexuals should be recognized by law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages, 58% (down 1 point from Aug 2005, and 9 points from March 1996) of Americans responded that they should not be recognized. 39% (up 2 points from Aug 2005, and 12 points from 1996) felt same-sex marriages should be recognized by law. If "homosexuals" is replaced with "same-sex couples", 42% back same-sex marriage while 56% oppose it.^{[citation needed]}

A similar poll conducted in March 2006, a Princeton Survey Research Associates / Pew Research Center poll concluded 39% of Americans support same-sex marriage, while 51% oppose it, and 10% were undecided. In December 2004, a poll by the same company found 61% of Americans opposed - with 38% "strongly opposed". Now, less than 2 years later, just 23% are "strongly opposed". However, an identical poll taken by the same group in June 2006 found a rise in those opposed to same-sex marriage, with 56% disapproving of the practice.

The most recent poll prior to this also showed opposition to gay marriages had fallen. An Opinion Dynamics / Fox News poll released April 6 of 2006. According to this poll, 55% of Americans oppose same-sex marriage, 33% support it, and 11% are unsure of where they stand.

Older polls

Gallup Poll (known as the "CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll" before 2006) of adults nationwide.

"Do you think marriages between same-sex couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?" (Wording pre-2006: "Do you think marriages between homosexuals should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?") N=492, MoE ± 5 (Form A)

In the following table, "Y" means "Should Be Valid"; "N" means "Should Not Be Valid"; and "U" means "Unsure".

Poll Date	Y	N	U
5/5-5/8/2011	53	45	3
5/2-5/6/2010	44	53	3
5/7-5/10-2009	40	57	3
5/8-5/11/2008	40	56	4
5/10-5/13/2007	46	53	1
5/8-5/11/2006	42	56	2
4/29-5/1/2005	39	56	5
3/18-3/20/2005	28	68	4
7/19-7/21/2004	32	62	6
3/5-3/7/2004	33	61	6
2/16-2/17/2004	32	64	4
2/6-2/8/2004	36	59	5
12/2003	31	65	4
10/2003	35	61	4
6/2003	39	55	6
1/2000	34	62	4
2/1999	35	62	3
3/1996	27	68	5

A poll taken June 22, 2006 by Rasmussen Reports asked "Should marriage be defined in terms of a union between a man and a woman? Or should marriage be defined as a union between any two people including same sex couples?" 68% replied that "marriage is between man and woman", 29% said marriage "between any two people" and 4% were "not sure".

CBS News poll historical results asking:

• "Which comes closest to your view? Gay couples should be allowed to legally marry. OR, Gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not legally marry. OR, There should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship."

	Legal marriage	Civil union	No recognition	Unsure
August 20 - 24, 2010	40%	30%	25%	5%
April 5 - 12, 2010	39%	24%	30%	7%
June 12 - 16, 2009	33%	30%	32%	5%
April 22 - 26, 2009	42%	25%	28%	5%
March 12 - 26, 2009	33%	27%	35%	5%
May 30 - June 3, 2008	30%	28%	36%	6%
March 7–11, 2007	28%	32%	35%	5%
October 27–31, 2006	28%	29%	38%	5%
February 24–28, 2005	23%	34%	41%	2%
November 18–21, 2004	21%	32%	44%	3%
July 11–15, 2004	28%	31%	38%	3%
May 20–23, 2004	28%	29%	40%	3%
March 10–14, 2004	22%	33%	40%	5%

• The same CBS News Poll highlighting regional, political party affiliations and age differences in views. March 12-16, 2009. Nationwide:

Demographic	Marriage	Civil union	No recognition
All	33%	27%	25%
Republicans	6%	34%	59%
Democrats	46%	23%	26%
Independents	37%	26%	30%
18–45 years	41%	23%	32%
45-64	29%	32%	35%
65 and older	26%	29%	41%
65 & older	18%	27%	47%
Men	27%	28%	42%
Women	38%	26%	30%

Pew Research

The Pew Research Center/Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey poll asking:

• "Do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally?" (Margin of error three percent)

Date	Favor	Oppose	Unsure
February 22–March 14, 2011	45%	46%	9%
July 21–August 5, 2010	42%	48%	10%
July 9, 2009	37%	54%	9%
May 21–25, 2008	38%	49%	13%
August, 2007	36%	55%	9%
March 8–12, 2006	39%	51%	10%
July 13–17, 2005	36%	53%	11%
December 1–16, 2004	32%	61%	7%
August 5–10, 2004	29%	60%	11%
July 2004	32%	56%	12%
March 2004	32%	59%	9%
February 2004	30%	63%	7%
November 2003	30%	62%	8%
October 2004	30%	58%	12%

• "Do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose allowing gay and lesbian couples to enter into legal agreements with each other that would give them many of the same rights as married couples? (Margin of error three percent)

Date	Favor	Oppose	Unsure
July 13–17, 2005	53%	40%	7%
August 5–10, 2004	48%	45%	7%
July 2004	49%	43%	8%
March 2004	49%	44%	7%
October 2003	45%	47%	8%

A further Pew study in March 2006 found that 51% oppose gay marriage, with 39% supporting it, and the level of "strongly opposing" gay marriage has fallen from 42% to 28%. Pew's May 2008 Survey found that for the first time, a majority of people do not oppose gay marriage at 49%. 20% oppose and 29% Strongly oppose gay marriage, up 1% from the March 2006 Pew Research Results.

"Bradley Effect"

Commentators have noted instances where polling data has overstated voter opposition to referenda banning same-sex marriage; some have suggested that there may be a variation of the "Bradley Effect" in which individuals opposed to same-sex marriage are reluctant to express their true views to pollsters.

Generational differences

It has been noted that the biggest factor in the growth of support for same sex marriage and civil unions has been driven by younger Americans, including some young conservatives, who are far more favorably inclined to both civil unions and same sex marriage than seniors.^{[citation needed]} In one meta-analysis by Jeffrey Lax and Justin Phillips of Columbia University, a majority of 18-29 year old Americans in 38 states support same sex marriage while in only 6 states do less than 45% of 18-29 year olds support gay marriage. At the same time not a single state shows support for gay marriage greater than 35% amongst those 64 and older. The result is that even in the state with the greatest overall support for gay marriage, those 64 and older will be less supportive of gay marriage than 18-29 year olds in the state least receptive to gay marriage. This suggests that, over time, same sex marriage will continue to gain support simply due to the increasing number of more supportive youth and the decrease of less supportive, seniors. Lax and Phillips also suggest a "tipping point" effect at which point support for gay marriage begins to grow increasingly quickly once a certain level of support is reached by the population. This would explain why support for gay rights has increased more quickly among all age groups in states that were initially the most supportive of gay rights than in states with low initial levels of support.

Pew polling shows that older generations show less support for same-sex marriage than newer ones. Over the years 2001 through 2011, those born between 1928 and 1945 increased their support from 21% to 32%; those born between 1946 and 1964 increased their support from 32 to 37 percent; and those born between 1965 and 1980 decreased support from 49% to 46%. The generation born in 1981 and later was first tracked in 2003, when they voiced 51% support; by 2011, that figure had risen to 64%.

Regional differences

Recent polls have consistently shown that the nation can be divided into roughly equal thirds: one third supports gay marriage completely, another supports only civil unions, and the last is against any form of union entirely. Recently it has become common for polls to report that the majority of respondents support gay marriage in many Northeastern states, while some but not all polling have reported majority support in some Pacific Coast states.

States in which polls showed majority support for gay marriage in recent years include Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and the District of Columbia, and some polls have shown majority support in Hawaii, California, Oregon and Washington.^{[citation needed]}

While the population of the New England states are generally accepting of same sex marriages, polls show that the population of one of the two non-New England states to recognize same sex marriage, Iowa, does not have a majority in favor of same sex marriage. A poll from Iowa conducted for the Des Moines Register indicates that Iowans are evenly divided over a state constitutional amendment that would overturn the Iowa court decision, with a plurality disagreeing with the decision and a vast majority (92%) stating that the decision hasn't impacted their lives. Polling prior to the state supreme court decision legalizing same sex marriage place support in the high thirties or low forties. A breakdown of voter opinion by age brackets in Iowa, as elsewhere, showed younger Iowans overwhelmingly supporting same sex unions; 60% of those in the 18-30 age bracket supported gay marriage in an April 2009 poll.

Support for same sex unions does not guarantee state Supreme Court decisions or legislative action. New York voters have registered consistent support for same sex unions in polling dating back to 2005. However, New York state government did not grant marriage licenses to same sex couples until July 2011. Similarly, there is robust support in most states for either same sex marriage or civil unions, but due to past initiatives, legislation, and/or constitutional amendments, these states currently ban same sex unions. 30 states currently have constitutional amendments against same sex marriage. Some of those amendments, such as those in Virginia, Ohio, and Wisconsin ban both marriages and civil unions. However, several states are now considering reversing bans that have recently been enacted. Jon Huntsman, former governor of Utah, opposed same-sex marriage but supported civil unions; a spokesman summarized, "His position on that issue is the same as President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney."

Public opinion on same sex marriage and unions in the United States thus reveals a great deal of change in a short period of time and significant regional disparity. While New England, the Pacific Coast and northern Middle Atlantic states may support full-fledged marriage, comparisons of polling from a decade past to today reveals significant growth in support for same sex marriages and civil unions in those regions. Meanwhile polling from other regions show that while support for same sex marriages or civil unions have increased across the country, the growth of support is not uniform, with a significantly lower level of support occurring in the Deep South compared to the rest of the country. Given the wide diversity of opinions within the US, many supporters of same sex unions believe that the most accurate way to discuss support for same sex unions in the United States is on a state-by-state or region-to-region basis.

See also

• LGBT rights in the United States
• Societal attitudes toward homosexuality