Editor’s note: See update that the bottom.
Yet another new poll, this one released Tuesday morning by CNN/Opinion Research, shows majority approval in the United States for same-sex marriage. This is the fourth major nationwide poll in less than a year to find a majority of Americans support marriage for same-gender couples. Previously, an ABC News/Washington Post poll found 53% support for same-sex marriage, and an AP/Roper poll, along with a CNN poll last summer, both found 52% support for marriage equality.
Today’s CNN/Opinion Research poll found 51% of Americans think marriages between gay and lesbian couples should be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages, while 47% thought they should not.
Read: “Majority Of U.S. – Including Catholics – Now Support Same-Sex Marriage“
The poll found a majority of women — 57% — and a majority of both white and non-white respondents support marriage equality, along with 60% of those under the age of 50. 59% of those who attended college and/or made $50,000 a year or more also support full marriage equality.
The greatest disparity was in political affiliation. 64% of Democrats, and 55% of Independents support same-sex marriage, while only 27% of Republicans do, with a whopping 71% of Republicans answering that gay and lesbian couples should not be afforded marriage equality.
Majority support also came from those in the Northeast (55%), the Midwest (54%), and the West (61%), with only support from the South (41%) in the minority.
Those who identified as members of the Tea Party opposed same-sex marriage by 76% to 31%.
Meanwhile, a poll released last month found a large majority of American Catholics — 71% — support civil marriage equality for same-sex couples. The report also found that almost half of Catholics, 43%, support allowing gay couples to marry regardless of type of ceremony (civil or religious,) and 31% of American Catholics support allowing same-sex couples to have civil unions, and 74% believe that same-sex relationships should be accepted by society. Additionally, the report found that a majority of American Catholics (56%) believe same-gender sexual relations is not a sin, as opposed to the teachings of their church.
Monday, Speaker of the House John Boehner agreed to spend $500,000 to defend DOMA, the 1996 law already declared unconstitutional by a federal court judge, the Department of Justice, and President Obama.
UPDATE: 3:55 PM:
Oddly, as pointed out in this piece from OurTime, CNN only interviewed “adult Americans” aged 35 and up. So, while this poll is good news, it doesn’t display the true picture of support for same-sex marriage, as we know that overwhelmingly, across all demographics, support for marriage equality is higher in those under 35 than 35 and over.
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It's just lovely that same sex marriage is enjoying popular support. But the fact that LGBT civil rights are the only ones that have to go through repeated ballot initiatives is just wrong. No one's civil rights should ever be hostaged by popular opinion.
I agree. But what makes this such good news is that marriage equality opponents have said,"Well, judges shouldn't decide this; it should be the legislatures." Then when legislatures approve it, they say,"Well, it should be voted on by the people." So what is going to be their refuge when the voters start approving it? They'll have nowhere left go go!
Reality is a liberal conspiracy. It's true.
The solution to all of these problems is so simple!
Just divide the country at the Missisippi River and then you can have all the Taxes,
Gay Marriages, a million Abortions a day, Legalized Pot, Free Gov Drugs (and cheeze)…
and big Liberal Unions to make sure that even the biggest looser get a paycheck forever…
Liberals get the East. We get the West. I would agree to kick Alaska, Hawaii, and Texas
out of the USA so that Libertarians and Tea people have a place to run to.
And then I would Militarize the Border…. ooops I mean the Mississippi RIVER!
"House Republicans agreed to pay $520 an hour up to $500,000 to mount a legal defense of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The fees will pay for services of former Bush Administration Solicitor General Paul Clement and the blue-chip King & Spaulding law firm…"
See! Republicans have created a job for a least one person!
But, alas, he earns enough to not pay taxes.
I wonder how many people who are married had to ask at least 51% of strangers and their neighbors.
The Federal Defense of Marriage Act?
You mean the one written by Bill Clinton and supported by
Hillary Clinton while Bill was hoping to get re-elected?
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