53% of Americans Support Gay Marriage In Recent Survey

Gallup’s Third Consecutive Reading of 50% or Above over Past Year

May 2-7 poll by Gallup suggests that U.S. support for marriage equality is solidifying above the majority level.

Findings Very Different From 3 Years Ago

Three years ago, only 44% were in favor of gay marriage.  In 1996, only 27% of Americans supported same-sex marriage.

Highlights of the Poll:

  • Nearly all U.S. subgroups are more likely to favor gay marriage now.
  • Democrats, Independents, and liberals show increasing support for gay marriage, well above the majority.
  • Republicans, conservatives, and moderates more likely to favor gay marriage now.
  • Left-leaning political groups in last 3 years responsible for percentage increase.

 

Sixty-nine of Democrats believe in 2013 that gay marriage should be legal as opposed to 58% of Independents.  Only twenty-six percent of Republicans favor gay marriage.

Younger Americans are more likely than older Americans to favor same-sex marriage with the breakdown as follows:

  • The highest percentage of approval comes from 18 to 29 year-olds.
  • Fifty-three percent of 30 to 49 year-olds favor gay marriage.
  • Forty-six percent of people, 50 to 64 year-olds favor gay marriage.
  • Forty-one percent of sixty-five and older adults support gay marriage.

When asked their impression of how most Americans feel about the issue, 63% say the public is opposed to gay marriage when in effect, most support it.  Only 30% say the public favors it.  This finding suggests that a segment of Americans who support same-sex marriage believe that their views are in the minority, but they’re really in the majority.

Americans Are Not Convinced that Gay Marriage has Societal Benefits

Only 19% of Americans believe legalizing same-sex marriage will change society for the better.  But this figure is up from 10% in 2003. Forty percent say that legal gay marriage will have no effect on society or will make it worse (39%).