Leave a Comment Jacob Combs
More Americans strongly support marriage equality than strongly oppose it, new poll finds
May 23, 2012
By Jacob Combs
A new ABC News/Washington Post poll released today marks a new milestone for public opinion on marriage equality: by a significant margin, more Americans are now strongly in support of marriage equality than strongly opposed to it. Fifty-three percent of Americans support the freedom to marry, with 39 percent of respondents saying they strongly support it, and 32 percent saying they strongly oppose it. These numbers are a significant shift from March, when strong support and strong opposition were at equal levels. Strong opposition is now at its lowest point since 2004.
This increased support is likely due in part to increased exposure of LGBT individuals in society: the survey found that 71 percent of Americans personally know someone who is gay. In addition, knowing someone who is gay makes people 20 points more likely to support marriage than those who don’t.
Perhaps even more strikingly, the ABC/Post poll found that support for marriage equality has reached a new high amongst African-Americans at 59 percent, up an incredible 18 points from similar polls conducted this spring and last summer. Sixty-five percent of African-American respondents expressed support for Obama’s announcement on the issue.
Once again, party lines on the issue are evident: Republicans and conservatives oppose marriage equality by a 2-1 margin, while evangelical white Protestants oppose it by a 3-1 margin. White Democrats support it by a 2-1 margin, while a full 68 percent of independents support marriage rights, while 43 percent strongly supporting them. This last statistic is perhaps the most significant going forward: with such marked support among independents, it seems that marriage equality as a wedge issue is decidedly a thing of the past–at least in the court of public opinion.
Intriguingly, the ABC/Post poll asked respondents whether they favored a state-by-state or federal approach, and found that 49 percent favor the former while 46 percent support the latter. Support for federal marriage rules was higher amongst supporters of marriage equality, while support for a state-by-state solution was favored by opponents.
The poll’s full results can be found here. Perhaps the most exciting element of new polling information like this is the fact that is simply isn’t that newsworthy–all the survey opinions are pointing in the same direction. Still, the ABC/Post poll’s findings amongst African-Americans and independents is extremely positive. Clearly, an ever-growing (and fast growing) cross-section of Americans believes that equal marriage rights for all is simply the right thing to do.
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30 Comments Leave a Comment
1.
Str8Grandmother | May 23, 2012 at 8:06 am
Hey what happened to the WEDGE?
2.
Str8Grandmother | May 23, 2012 at 8:08 am
I post on a Catholic centric website and came across a comment I want to share,
"Even voters who are opposed to the redefinition of marriage in Washington State, a bill passed by the state legislature and signed into law by the governor last February, are hesitant to sign the referendum to put it in the ballot this November election because of fear of backlash. Names of those who signed a similar referendum (R-71) although unsuccesful in challenging the domestic partnership law, Senate Bill 5688, were partially released by the State Secretary. This domestic partnership law, which took effect in 2009 in Washington state, already provides “everything but marriage” to domestic partners.
I hope we will gather enough signatures by June 6. People who are not only convinced of the importance of upholding the true definiton of marriage but also are not afraid of losing their jobs, if their names are released."
Hey, I hope that lady is right. Let the shunning begin!!!
3.
Simon | May 23, 2012 at 8:19 am
Homophobic haters are antiChrist who do not believe or pretend to believe in Jesus Christ but do not acknowledge His 2 commandments to love God and to love thy neighbor as thyself, which are the highest of all biblical laws. The antiChrist work with the devil who is the master of quoting biblical verses except those 2 top commandments of love from Christ, to disagree, to avoid using Christ name but other name even 'god', to bring all sort of biblical verses and to lie. Their objective is to deceive people that those 2 commandments of love were not above all laws for Christians.
The issue of homosexuality among any other issues is a test of the Christian faith on that choice of who they really believe in the end, to love (stay with Christ to follow His commandments) or to hate (succumb to temptation of verses NOT from Christ and his top commandments and to justify their hatred).
4.
JoeRH | May 23, 2012 at 8:28 am
No offense to anyone, but I am so sick of these polls. They don't mean jack when it comes to actual VOTERS, who are what really counts when it comes to our rights. This just gives false hope. The NC amendment showed strong disapproval when polled, but it passed by a pretty significant margin. i guess it's great that people generally have an opinion that favors gay rights, but in the end, this means next to nothing when it comes to us actually having the odds in our favor when our rights come up for a vote.
5.
Str8Grandmother | May 23, 2012 at 8:31 am
Below I want to share a terrific Video I saw yesterday.
[youtube k7Ktjqf9Vi4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7Ktjqf9Vi4 youtube]
6.
Str8Grandmother | May 23, 2012 at 8:32 am
Actually now that I think about it, I think this video should be on the front page along with this article. It exemplifies the article
7.
Walter | May 23, 2012 at 9:10 am
This is Obama's Chicago Church.
8.
Jim | May 23, 2012 at 9:20 am
I think that these polls typically overestimate support for marriage equality by about 7 points. I don't think that the polls are worthless, but this bias needs to be taken into account when interpreting the numbers.
9.
Gregory in SLC | May 23, 2012 at 9:40 am
"Gay people have never been the enemy" Hallelujah!!!
10.
Str8Grandmother | May 23, 2012 at 10:42 am
Are you sure? If you have a handy link you can provide to verify that I would like to see that. I'll go on the internet to see if I can find one.
11.
James Sweet | May 23, 2012 at 10:52 am
This is crucially important, perhaps more so than when raw approval topped 50%, because the perception has always been that while you might gain a few enthusiastic votes by supporting marriage equality, you'd lose many more in the form of people who simply won't vote for a candidate if they don't hate teh geys. This poll suggests that the number of people who simply won't vote for a candidate if they don't support marriage equality may start to play a significant role in the political calculus. That's important.
Heh, I dunno… can we now use it as a wedge to screw over the Republicans? ;D
12.
James Sweet | May 23, 2012 at 10:55 am
I think you are right to be somewhat cynical, but that's partially I think why this poll result is important: In the past, equality opponents have been more motivated. It looks like that may be changing.
Anyway, Jim makes a good point — in any vote against equality (and in this context I mean any type of equality, for any group and for any issue) people tend to be less bigoted when talking to pollsters than when actually at the ballot box. This effect has been observed any number of times. People don't want to look like a jerk, even if they are talking to a stranger. But they have no problem voting like a jerk if they think Jesus wants them to!
13.
Jean R | May 23, 2012 at 11:05 am
<img src=http://www.wirelessstore.info/ckjs/oxxc.jpg> This has been the general trend, and it's definitely good news to us.<img src=http://www.wirelessstore.info/afyhv/5es.jpg>
14.
Bob | May 23, 2012 at 11:33 am
this is a good site for Catholics for marriage equality,,,
http://www.c4me.org/
it's a place where they can find others like themselves who do not vote according to the dictates from Rome
15.
Bob | May 23, 2012 at 11:35 am
and a great video,,, hope this link works
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detai…
16.
Walter | May 23, 2012 at 11:36 am
Here's a link.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_United_Churc…
17.
Adam Bink | May 23, 2012 at 12:57 pm
I too am skeptical mostly because of a Bradley effect, but that doesn't mean they aren't worth reporting.
Obviously as you point out, the results don't matter as much when it comes to a state like North Carolina, but they are useful as a tool to help move others — for example Colin Powell, who just came out for marriage equality — in the right direction.
18.
Bob | May 23, 2012 at 1:01 pm
Colin Powell,, came out in support for marriage equality!!!! woot woot
19.
fiona64 | May 23, 2012 at 2:07 pm
A pastor friend of mine shared this today as well (oddly enough, we know each other from our days as dog trainers … I smile every time I think of it). This is, as my friend says, the perfect antidote to the "Pastor" Worleys of the world.
20.
Str8Grandmother | May 23, 2012 at 2:46 pm
Bob, I try and spend about half of my time on pro-gay websites being educated. Then I spend the other half of my time on websites where sexual minorities are hated.
many thanks for that link to pro-gay Catholics but those are not the Catholics I am interested in conversing with. I am after the disapproving Catholics, so I go where they go.
I enjoy the camaraderie of my pro-gay websites but I try and devote equal time to converting the bigoted. What good am I if I only hang around pro-gay websites? What am I accomplishing other than being entertained and informed. Even though it is hard and it seems like a waste of time, I still spend 50% of my time behind enemy lines. Once in a while I manage a convert.
21.
Nick | May 23, 2012 at 2:48 pm
Thank you soooooo much for bringing this video to our attention. This man is truly a light in a sea of darkness. I wish President Obama would listen to what he had to say. This gives me real hope for a better future. Again, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!
22.
Str8Grandmother | May 23, 2012 at 2:50 pm
I could never be a dog trainer, dogs never grow up, they are always the equivalent of a toddler. I admire those with the patience to do it (I don't have it!), I know you are well rewarded with a loving pet.
23.
Rich | May 23, 2012 at 3:07 pm
A national Catholic organization is Catholics for Equality. You may not have heard of it but believe me, the Church has and they are not happy. Check it out. They are wonderful.
24.
Sarah | May 23, 2012 at 4:54 pm
I do not see this as a beacon of what is to come with voting on rights, because ultimately that is not what will get us marriage equality IMO. I think that the real upside to these trends, regardless of how these numbers play out in the voting booth, is that the numbers will be so far skewed towards equality that politicians will have a hard time justifying their own bigotry as loyalty to their constituents. It will no longer suffice to say that we need to wait for public opinion to shift or be overwhelmingly in support before states or the federal government act. Groups who are against us will have a hard time pulling out real statistics to say that we must follow the will of the people. They can hide behind votes which are determined by the shamefully low percentage of voters who show up, but eventually they will not be able to hide behind polls.
I heard a great thought the other day on NPR in the aftermath of Obama's support. Somebody was analyzing the polls, and his points that struck home with me were these: Marriage equality is a social issue which keeps trending positively at high rates. In addition, it is an issue which is unlikely to have people changing back to being against. In essence, it is unlikely for somebody to decide to support marriage equality one day, and change to be against it the next. That gave me some hope that I so needed after the NC vote against me!
25. 2012 05 23 P8T Prop 8 Tri&hellip | May 23, 2012 at 6:15 pm
[...] http://www.prop8trialtracker.com/2012/05/23/more-americans-strongly-support-marriage-equality-than-s… [...]
26.
Str8Grandmother | May 23, 2012 at 6:56 pm
Good comment Sarah
27.
Bob | May 23, 2012 at 7:33 pm
I admire your devotion Str8Grandmother,,, educating the haters,,,,
the reason I posted the above links was to share with others,, questioning Catholics, or affirming,, they already see the light,,, and their website is a gathering place for others who are searching…..
good news is they are out there and growing,,,,, those Catholics who follow their conscience ,,,, I stumbled on that and was very pleased,,,
it was in response to your mention of Catholics,,, we now can see there is a divide among them too,,,,, they are our Allies,,, and they are a growing group in the Catholic Church,,,,
I appreciate what you're doing ,, I spend time in dialog with my own L.C.C. which sides with the haters,,, we gotta make ourselves visible to them,,,,,
28.
Bob | May 23, 2012 at 9:37 pm
have you ever seen a guide dog at work???? or a companion dog for the handicapped????? a working cattle dog???? just gotta speak up for dogs here,,,,, they have an enormous capacity to be loving loyal, working contributing companions
police dogs have won awards for bravery?? they train them for service in the military need I go on,, let's here it for dogs,,,,
29.
Bob | May 23, 2012 at 10:06 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detai… a little off topic,,, but have you met Cairo the canine hero member of the navy seals team that captured Bin Laden
30.
Bob | May 23, 2012 at 10:10 pm
sorry posted in wrong place,,, should go with comment below about dogs never grow up,,,,,,,,, I'm a dog lover
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