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%).