As the battle to uphold or repeal 
For the first time on record a major poll now shows a narrow majority of American voters in favor of allowing gay and lesbian couples the constitutional right to wed. The recent survey conducted by CNN / Opinion Research of 935-registered voters shows that by a margin of 52-46% most believe gays and lesbians have both the constitutional right to get married and have their marriage recognized by law.
In truth these figures were culled from a smaller sample of 496-voters within the overall pool of those surveyed and a substantial margin of error (+/- 4.5%) needs to be considered. Another smaller sample of 513-voters within the broader survey was also asked the question with slightly different language. The word “should” was omitted in favor of emphasizing the “have” in a question regarding the legal marriage rights of same-sex couples. Yet even here nearly half of responders (49%) favored the constitutionality of gay marriage. Combining the scores the CNN polls finds that a small majority of American voters (50.5%) now support the legal right for same-sex marriage against those (48.5%) who do not.
The CNN survey could be hailed as something of a public opinion landmark for gay-rights advocates in their long struggle for full equality under law. Most polls in recent years have shown growing social acceptance of homosexuals in society and culture but in terms of legally recognizing their right to marry it has always stopped short of reaching majority levels.
It will be interesting to see what sort of influence the Proposition 8 battle has on the current levels of support. Are more people tuning in to the debate and expressing greater support for same-sex marriage rights because of the highly publicized court case? And will these numbers settle back in to their recently typical levels of support in the low to mid-40 percentiles once the debate passes? Additionally is the general status quo being echoed by other recent polls that show support for same-sex marriage as still a minority viewpoint and this most recent CNN poll as little more than statistical noise? Or is this new poll simply the first of many to reveal the facts of a growing trend?
More polling is needed to confirm the growing levels of support collected here by CNN / Opinion Research as legitimate. Meanwhile the country focuses on
PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES / JUSTIN SULLIVAN
Comments
Once there's full transparency on a issue the truth usually wins..Kudos to Judge Walker and to attorneys Olson & Boies.
And to CT for being a marriage equality state since 2008.
Onward to full civil and marriage equality rights in 21st century America, and abroad.
Joe Mustich, Justice of the Peace,
Washington, Connecticut, USA.
I think people are starting to understand that this is simply a civil rights issue. Religion has nothing to do with secular (civil) marriage.
This ruling brings tears to my eyes, and again gives me hope in man's ability to do what is right and fair for everyone. Moral disapproval gives NO ONE the right to deny any single person or group of people any rights enjoyed by anyone else.
I am so sick and tired of religion and "moral superiority" ruining human society, and I am so happy for this step in the right and logical direction.
For those of you claiming homosexuality is a "lifestyle", that is a false and ignorant statement. Homosexuality is not a choice. Just like you don't choose the color of your skin, you cannot choose whom you are sexually attracted to. If you can, sorry, but you are not heterosexual, you are bi-sexual. Virtually all major psychological and medical experts agree that sexual orientation is NOT a choice. Most gay people will tell you its not a choice. Common sense will tell you its not a choice. While science is relatively new to studying homosexuality, studies tend to indicate that its biological.
http://www-news.uchicago.edu/releases/03/differential-brain-activation.pdf
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/sex/dn14146-gay-brains-structured-li...
Gay, Straight Men's Brain Responses Differ
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,155990,00.html
http://www.livescience.com/health/060224_gay_genes.html
http://www.springerlink.com/content/w27453600k586276/
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/06/16/172/
Homosexuality is not a sin. The Bible is constantly being taken out of context to support anti-gay views. Scholars who have studied the Bible in context of the times and in relation to other passages have shown those passages (Leviticus, Corinthians, Romans, etc) have nothing to do with homosexuality. These passages often cherry-picked while ignoring the rest of the Bible. The sins theses passages are referring to are idolatry, Greek temple sex worship, prostitution, pederasty with teen boys, and r_ape, not homosexuality or two loving consenting adults.
http://www.soulfoodministry.org/docs/English/NotASin.htm
http://www.jesus21.com/content/sex/bible_homosexuality_print.html
http://www.christchapel.com/reclaiming.html
http://www.stjohnsmcc.org/new/BibleAbuse/BiblicalReferences.php
http://www.gaychristian101.com/
There is a couple other different types of polls that need to be mentioned.......... what other western, most of them Christian countries are doing re gay people
In the last 2 months, Ireland - perhaps the most catholic of all countries, put in Civil Unions. Argentina, Portugal, and Iceland (parliment vote 49-0) put in marriage equality. Mexico's supreme court ruled gays can adopt, and that all mex states must recognize gay marriages done in Mexico city. Opening the way to marriage throughout the country.
Denmark, the most conservative of Scandanavian countries now allows gays to adopt. finland is moving from "partnerships" to marriage. Costa Rica shot down a referendum aimed at banning gay marriage. And countries such Chile, & Peru are looking at marriage or civil unions.
And in western Europe, the only countries without marriage or an equivalent for their gay people are Italy and greece. And about 15 otehr countries, mostly western culturally, have marriage or an equivalent.
God is surely watching and acting. To finally insure that another part of his creation will be treated as equals under our laws. For the churches, what they do in their church is their business, just as what their governments do re marriage laws is none of their business.
People are only selectively quoting polls and there are many polls that show that gay marriage is still strongly disapproved of in this country. I note that the author tended to quote the most pro-gay marriage polls, but you must remember that if a poll on gay marriage shows a high level of undecideds (like the NBC/WSJ poll), it's almost certain that the undecideds are actually opposed to gay marriage.
Additionally, aside from the Gallup Poll that found a clear majority against gay marriage, there are 3 other surveys released today:
Fox News: Just 37% support gay marriage, compared to 57% that support either no legal recognition or just 'partnerships'
PPP: Voters oppose gay marriage 57%-33%
Mason-Dixon poll of Nevada: Just 35% of Nevadans support legalizing gay marriage, compared to 46% who don't and the rest who are 'undecided' (more like 'afraid to say something politically incorrect'). Considering that Nevada voted heavily for Obama and is hardly known as the nation's most conservative state, this doesn't suggest that a majority of Americans support gay marriage.
Other recent polls have found the following:
July 2010 Angus Reid Poll: By 55%-36% Americans oppose gay marriage and by 55%-37% want the US Supreme Court to define marriage as a union between a man and woman.
April 2009 Quinnipiac Poll: By 55%-38% Americans oppose their state legalizing gay marriage
August 2009 Pew Research Poll: By 53%-39% Americans oppose gay marriage.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!