American Views on Gay Marriage After Supreme Ct. Decisions

Pew Research Center, ABC News, USA Today, Reuters Survey Americans

Highlights of the Polls’ Findings

Following the June 26, 2013 Supreme Court decisions that struck down Prop 8, the California law that banned gay marriage, and a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act that barred the federal government from providing benefits to same-sex spouses, Americans were polled about those landmark

cases. All the polls: Reuters, USA Today, Pew Research Center, ABC News/Washington Post Poll found that the majority of Americans still support same-sex marriage.  Here are the highlights:

Reuters Findings

Four hundred and ten people were polled were asked separate questions about each ruling on June 26, 2013 (the day of the ruling) and on June 28, 2013. Here are the finings:

  • A majority of Americans are either in favor of same-sex marriage or had no opinion.
  • Forty-three percent agreed or strongly agreed with the court’s handling of a case concerning DOMA.
  • Forty-one percent agreed or strongly agreed with the court’s handling of the Prop 8 case.
  • Twenty-five percent of those surveyed strongly opposed DOMA and Prop 8 decisions. About a quarter of respondents were either unfamiliar with the decisions or had no opinion.

USA Today Poll Survey

Conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International June 27-30, 2013, respondents were asked “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?”

  • Fifty-five percent should.
  • Forty-four should not.
  • Five percent were unsure.

The other question asked was” Do you favor or oppose the Supreme Court’s ruling in the DOMA case (explained as an unconstitutional part of the Defense of Marriage Act that denied married gays and lesbians federal benefits that are available to married couples of the opposite sex)?

  • Forty-eight were in favor.
  • Forty-three were opposed.
  • Nine percent were unsure.
  • Only major demographic groups in which a majority opposed same-sex marriage were  Republicans (68%) and seniors 65 and older (51%).
  • In the South, a stronghold for opposition to gay marriage, opposition has slipped below 50%.

Pew Research Center Survey Findings

Conducted from June 27-30, 2013, interviewees were asked “from what you’ve read and heard about the Supreme Court’s decisions on same-sex marriage, would you say you strongly approve, approve, disapprove, or strongly disapprove of their decision?”

  • Forty-five percent of those interviewed were in favor.
  • Forty-percent disapproved.
  • Fifteen percent were unsure.
  • Twenty-two percents of Republicans approve.
  • Sixty-three percent off Republicans disapprove.
  • Fifteen percent were unsure.
  • Sixty-one percent of Democrats approve.
  • Twenty-nine percent of Democrats disapprove.
  • Ten percent of Democrats are unsure.

In answer to the question: “Did the Supreme Court rule in favor of those who opposed same-sex marriage, or those who support same-sex marriage?” the respondents opined:

  • Sixty-six percent supported the decision.
  • Thirteen percent opposed it.
  • Twenty-one percent were unsure.

Replying to the question “Do the Supreme Court’s rulings mean that same-sex couples can now get married in all 50 states, or is it up to individual states to determine whether same-sex couples can get married”, the respondents answered:

  • Sixty-seven percent said it is up to each state.
  • Fifteen percent said homosexuals can marry in all 50 states.
  • Eighteen percent are unsure.

ABC News/Washington Post Poll

Conducted from June 26-30, 2013, adults nationwide were asked “Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision providing legally married same-sex couples with the same federal benefits given to another married couples?”

  • Fifty-six approved.
  • Forty-one disapproved.
  • Three percent were unsure.

Asked the question “overall, do you approve of disapprove of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision letting stand a lower court ruling that allows gay marriage in California?”

  • Fifty-one percent approve.
  • Forty-five percent disapprove.
  • Four percent were unsure