Poll shows support for gay marriage

Posted: Thursday, April 30, 2009 6:50 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Harry Enten
For the first time in a nationwide survey, more Americans say they support gay marriage (49%) than oppose it (46%), according to the latest Washington Post/ABC poll.

That 49% supporting gay marriage, in fact, is a significant jump from 2004, when the Post/ABC poll found just 32% in favor.

This surge within the past month suggests that any backlash against the recent moves across the country to legalize gay marriage has yet to emerge.

Also in the new survey, a majority of Americans (53%) believe that their state should recognize gay marriages from other states.

Other recent polls have shown a similar increase in support for gay unions nationwide. The New York Times/CBS News poll released this week showed 42% of Americans supporting gay marriage -- the highest number ever recorded in that poll. This week's Quinnipiac poll, which found a majority (55%) against gay marriage, also showed 57% of Americans support civil unions.

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Comments

Have a look at the internals of the CBS and ABC polls - vastly oversampled Dems. Note the Quin poll is very different. A poll released by Survey USA also shows opposition to gay marriage remains very strong.

Steve, Greenville, South Carolina (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 7:16 PM)

This will get the rightwingnuts going...they hate gays and anything that smacks of giving them the same rights as the rest of us...

STFU clowns (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 7:17 PM)

MSNBC'S "SLIGHT OF HAND" ---- MIXING POLL RESULTS ON "GAY CIVIL UNIONS" WITH "GAY MARRAIGE."

YES --- MOST SUPPORT GAY & LESBIAN CIVIL UNIONS --- AND YES, MOST OPPOSE "GAY MARRAIGE."

SUPPORT IS FOR "CIVIL UNIONS" NOT FOR "GAY MARRAIGE" ... (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 7:40 PM)

I don't see how two people getting married, be they same sex or different sex impact my marriage of thirty five years. Love is what matters not gender.

CynicL1, Florence, SC (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 7:52 PM)

The polls are phony. Ever time gay marraige is put to a vote, it loses.

Gray Halls (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 7:54 PM)

NO ONE SURVEYED ME, NO MARRIAGE, NO WAY...YOU WANT TO LIVE TOGATHER, FINE, JUST STAY OUT OF MY FACE, AND DON'T TRY TO MAKE ME CHANGE MY WAYS...

Larry Armstrong Seneca, MO (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 8:08 PM)

Not in California.

Dino (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 8:10 PM)

Finally.....America is acting grown-up!

Sheila Bohrt (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 8:16 PM)

Quick, somebody find "no joe, no bo"...we need that precious little dissenting opinion from Rasmussen!

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 8:30 PM)

America has a history of accepting the minority. It's nice to see the American people coming around on this issue.

Gabe (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 8:47 PM)

a civil union support is night and day from supporting gay marriage, I lived in California all my life and ABSOLUTELY OPPOSE gay marriage. I just doesn't jive with reality, what comes next I want to marry 3 wives or my dog??? and what's with the ABC poll, how liberal can you get. I have moved to Alabama and suprisingly most people around here feel just like they do in California, quit trying to fake these results. Two dudes want to spend there lives together, share property, be together when one is dyeing, that is alright I have no problem with that, but marriage is Ordained for ME from scripture, and the constitution gives no basis for a homosexual marriage, you have to start respecting our view too.
You may be ahead right now with "that man Obama" in office, I love to call him that because it makes you guys scream while you read, but I am screaming at the rape of my country because of that man. So read your onesided lib polls and believe what you want. No majority supports gay marriage.

Leah In ALABAMA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 8:51 PM)

If you are so inclined, tune in to Hardball Chris. He has what I call a Smackdown. Rational Democrats versus Pat Buchanan.

Reason against emotion! It's fun to see Buchanan squirm, and try to wiggle out/rationalize.

BTW: Dr. Rice, whatcha' gonna do when they come for you?

Ed, San Antonio (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 8:52 PM)

The fact is that to be pro-gay marriage...is to be pro-marriage. Americans are beginning to understand this. The media has been reluctant to educate the anti-gay population of the falacies behind their arguements-- especially the statement that gay marriage is "against the Bible" and that it flies in the face of faith.

What media outlet, for example, has pointed out the utter hypocracy of Miss California's Biblical Pronouncements. Has one of them pointed out that in making such public pronouncements as a woman adorned in a low cut gown and bespeckled with jewelry and diamonds, that Miss California was herself violating several Bible admonishments.

What media outlet has suggested that she might not want to be tossing the first stone?

Ed Watson, Santa Cruz, CA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:37 PM)

The United states is still moving towards equality for all.

MAC, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:00 PM)

Redefine marriage as woman and woman or man and man, its completely wrong. Its like saying protons with positive sign are gays. Allowing the concept of marriage to be redifined is against all natural laws.

Khaled Ahmed (Sent Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:03 PM)

10 years from now, we will look back and think how ignorant we were to think that gay marriage was "wrong."

Stephen (Sent Friday, May 01, 2009 12:55 AM)

Point of information.......

When polled, are subjects ased if they are in favor of civil unions or gay marriage?

New Indi (Sent Friday, May 01, 2009 1:02 AM)

Thank goodness - IT IS ABOUT TIME!!!

Hopefully, the fear mongering and downright hatred generated from Conservatives and the Religious Rightwing is finally wearing off as Americans see there's no justifiable reason (other than personal prejudices and ignorance) to discriminate against same sex couples from being allowed to marry the person they love.

It wasn't right when they banned interracial couples from marrying and it isn't right today to ban same sex couples from doing the same.

Hopefully new generations will begin to understand that people should be allowed to live their lives as they deem fit with the person they love.

Without the interference of busy-body religious/conservative types, who spend way too much time trying to force people to live the way they think they should live.

VT Moreno, San Jose, California (Sent Friday, May 01, 2009 2:35 AM)

But I'm sure no-bo-no-jo has some polls to counter this, don't you? You righties are slacking off. You have to fight this. How dare the majority of America be allowed to believe that Gay couples deserve the same rights to life, liberty, and the persuit of happiness that you have. Get with it. 2M4M anyone?

One more example of the continuing extinction of the bigoted right and their dogma. America is finally shaking off the dust from the dark ages. Face it, no one is listening to you anymore.

http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie Philadelphia, PA (Sent Friday, May 01, 2009 8:48 AM)

Count me in as a supporter. If the U.S. is going to continue to support this weird dance of church and state called "marriage", then we ALL get the chance to get out on the dance floor. Count me OUT of that part, though. I don't like dancing.

Alan, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Friday, May 01, 2009 9:06 AM)

It is so nice to see that the American public is finally starting to realize that gay marriage poses no threat to anyone. There is just no logical reason whatsoever to prohibit gay marriage.

Again, it is the religious element trying to impose their beliefs on the rest of the country.

Chris - IL (Sent Friday, May 01, 2009 9:12 AM)

I an among the one of the 57% that support civil unions. The word marriage should not be used. Mirriage is the union between a man and a woman, that union is consumated, the consumation of that marriage, or shall I say the joining of the couple represents a holy and sacred bond, you become one.

I can get even deeper because I stand on biblical teachings, in other words, the word of God. Man cannot marry man, if it were so then woman would not have been created. Everything on this earth has a mate of the opposite, the intent is to multiply. Man cannot multiply with man.

I just wish that the it should be called Civil Gay Unions, as it is their right. We are not to deny anyone their legal rights. They ahouldn't be restricted just as a womans right to chose. There is one judge and we all must give account..even if we deny Gay civil unions and women the the right to make a choice (Pro choice), we are standing in judgement.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Friday, May 01, 2009 9:37 AM)

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