[ABC News] Strong Support for Gay Marriage Now Exceeds Strong Opposition

[racaulk]

Strong public support for same-sex marriage exceeds strong opposition by a significant margin for the first time in ABC News/Washington Post polls, and African-Americans have moved more in favor, perhaps taking their lead from Barack Obama on the issue.

Overall, 53 percent of Americans say gay marriage should be legal, steady the past year but up from 36 percent in just 2006. Thirty-nine percent “strongly” support it, while 32 percent are strongly opposed – the first time strong sentiment has tilted positive. Six years ago, by contrast, strong views on the issue were negative by a broad 27-point margin.

Further, this poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates, finds that support for gay marriage has reached a new high among African-Americans in ABC/Post polls, up from four in 10 in recent surveys to 59 percent now.

Another result shows increasing exposure: Seventy-one percent of Americans now say they have a friend, family member or acquaintance who’s gay, up from 59 percent in 1998. People who know someone who’s gay are 20 points more likely than others to support gay marriage.

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Link to article: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/strong-support-for-gay-marriage-now-exceeds-strong-opposition/

Link to poll with full results: http://www.langerresearch.com/uploads/1137a2GayMarriage.pdf

[William769]

1. Polling & actions are two different things.

I'm not sure which one to believe this year.

[racaulk]

2. I am cautiously optimistic about the four states that are voting on this in November.

I think we actually may pull out a win or two at the voting box, with Maine and Washington being our best bets.

We'll see.

[Initech]

3. In 10 years we'll wonder why this was ever an issue to begin with.

[Initech]

4. I know a few people who go / have gone to Biola.

While it is a hotbed for West Coast Christian fundamentalists - it does seem to be a lot more open and progressive institution than say Liberty or Regent is. I definitely support more of this.