Polls On Attitudes On Homosexuality & Gay Marriage

F
AEI Public Opinion S Studies

POLLS ON ATTITUDES ON HOMOSEXUALITY & GAY MARRIAGE
Compiled by Karlyn Bowman, Resident Fellow, AEI, Andrew Rugg, Research Assistant, AEI, and Jennifer Marsico, Senior Research Associate, AEI
(Updated March 2013)
American Enterprise Institute compilation
Table of Contents
LGBT Timeline.... 3 Acceptance.4 Personal Comfort Level 12 Employment.14 Military Service...18 Gays and Lesbians in Politics.24 Know Someone?..26 Nature/Nurture....29 Gay Marriage...32 Marriage or Civil Unions or Neither 46 Civil Unions/Legal Partnerships/Benefits..50 Constitutional Amendment?...59 Families.64 Adoption66 Party Identification & Voting of Gays, Lesbians, and Bisexuals..68 The 2004, 2008, and 2012 Campaigns69 The 2004 Campaign.69 The 2008 Campaign.72 The 2012 Campaign.73 Comparisons with Other Issues..77 Youth Attitudes....81 Miscellaneous...84
LGBT Timeline
Jun. 28, 1969 Stonewall riots Jun. 28, 1970 First gay pride marches Nov. 27, 1978 San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, first openly gay officeholder in California, is assassinated 1980 Democratic Party endorses a homosexual rights platform plank Sep. 1982 CDC uses the word AIDS for the first time 1983 MA Rep. Gerry Studds becomes first openly gay member of Congress Oct. 2, 1985 Actor Rock Hudson becomes first major public figure to die from AIDS Jun. 30, 1986 In Bowers v. Hardwick, the US Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of a Georgia law criminalizing homosexual sex. 1987 First showing of the AIDS quilt on the National Mall Dec. 21, 1993 Dont ask, dont tell becomes law Sep. 21, 1996 Defense of Marriage Act becomes law; defines marriage as between one man and one woman Jun. 26, 2003 In Lawrence v. Texas, the US Supreme Court strikes down Texas sodomy law (overturns Bowers v. Hardwick). Massachusetts becomes first US state to legalize same-sex marriage Sep. 20, 2011 Dont Ask Dont Tell repealed 2012 Maine, Maryland, and Washington become the first states to pass same-sex marriage via popular vote Tammy Baldwin becomes first openly gay Senator Barack Obama becomes first president to support same-sex marriage Democratic Party platform supports same-sex marriage
ACCEPTANCE: In 1973, when the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago first asked people about sexual relations between two adults of the same sex, 73 percent described them as always wrong and another seven percent as almost always wrong. When the organization last asked the question in 2010, 46 percent called them always wrong and 4 percent almost always wrong. This marked the first time in which less than a majority of those surveyed said that homosexual relations were either always or almost always wrong. NORC interviewers have asked the same question about extramarital sexual relations over the period, and they find no liberalization in attitudes. As for pre-marital sexual activity, in 1972, 36 percent told NORC interviewers that premarital sexual relations were always wrong. In the latest poll from 2010, 21 percent gave that response, while 53 percent said they were not wrong at all (See Comparisons section of this document). Forty-three percent in 1977 told Gallup interviewers that homosexual relations between consenting adults should be legal. In July 2003, after the Supreme Courts June 26 decision in Lawrence vs. Texas, 48 percent gave that response. In November 2012, 64 percent gave that response. Acceptance can be measured in ways other than legality as other findings in this document show.
What about sexual relations between two adults of the same sex - do you think it is always wrong, almost always wrong, wrong only sometimes, or not wrong at all?
1973 1974 1976 1977 1980 1982 1984 1985 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1993 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010
NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS
Always wrong 73% 69 70 73 75 74 76 75 77 77 74 76 78 66 68 61 59 59 56 58 56 52 46
Almost always 7% 6 6 6 6 5 5 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 5 6 4 5 5 5 3 4
Only sometimes 8% 9 8 8 6 7 6 7 7 6 6 6 4 8 6 6 7 8 7 7 7 7 8
Not wrong 11% 13 16 14 14 14 13 12 12 13 15 13 15 22 23 28 28 29 32 30 32 38 43
Cohort Analysis of NORC Data Homosexual Sexual Relations Always Wrong 1973 Total Sex Male Female Race White Black Age 18-29 30-44 45-59 60 and over Education Less than high school High school Junior college Bachelors Graduate degree Church attendance One to two times/year Once a month Nearly weekly Weekly or more Region Northeast Midwest South West Party Democrat Republican Independent Ideology Liberal Moderate Conservative Note: 56 74 76 89 90 68 30^ 43 43 63 72 81 84 64 75 84 59 77 75 64 NA NA NA 53 69 76 83 82 68 56 45 48 62 68 72 79 59 73 77 63 74 73 61 55 69 84 41 59 58 77 77 60 59 46 41 44 47 64 83 47 63 69 48 56 72 53 29 58 79 51 49 54 69 75 58 50 46 30 49 47 61 80 40 55 71 48 54 68 49 31 54 78 52 64 52 66 76 64 62 46 26 38 58 72 77 51 53 69 50 53 63 59 25 57 83 45 53 58 69 72 61 52 43 32 43 50 69 79 44 53 69 47 51 68 52 28 53 83 41 48 52 69 71 56 57 38 26 40 45 59 79 40 47 66 45 46 65 50 26 48 81 27 45 50 55 62 50 46 32 25 31 39 55 76 33 44 57 35 41 61 41 23 42 70 -29 -29 -26 -34 -28 -18 +18 -9 -18 -32 -33 -27 -7 -31 -31 -27 -24 -36 -14 -23 -31.7t -26.7t -14.6t 71 84* 69 75* 57 68 53 75 55 80 53 75 49 72 43 67 -28 -17 73% 72 73 1974 69% 71 68 1998 59% 61 56 2002 56% 58 53 2004 58% 59 57 2006 56% 59 54 2008 52% 57 48 2010 46% 50 42 Difference (1973-2010) -27% -21 -32
* = Sample size less than 200. ^ = According to NORC, this result is unexpectedly low. t = Change from 1974 to 2000.
For each one, please say whether you are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied. How about the acceptance of homosexuality in the nation? Very satisfied 5% 5 7 Somewhat satisfied 30% 35 30 Somewhat dissatisfied 28% 23 27 Very dissatisfied 29% 31 27
Jan. 2001 Jan. 2002 Jan. 2003
Gallup Gallup Gallup
Jan. 2004 Jan. 2005 Jan. 2006 Jan. 2007 Jan. 2008 Jan. 2012 Jan. 2013
Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup
4 6 5 7 7 8 8
35 26 27 27 31 33 41
24 23 28 23 23 22 19
32 37 31 35 29 29 26
Do you think homosexual relations between consenting adults should or should not be legal? Should be legal 43% 39 45 44 32 33 33 35 47 36 48 41 46 51 45 44 55 50 54 52 60 59 54 50 48 41 46 52 52 49 56 59 55 56 58 64 63 64 Should not be legal 43% 50 39 47 57 54 55 57 36 54 44 44 43 45 46 47 34 43 42 43 35 37 39 44 46 49 49 43 43 44 40 37 40 40 36 32 31 33
Jun. 1977 May 1981 Jun. 1982 Nov. 1985 Jul. 1986 Sep. 1986 Mar. 1987 July 1988 Oct. 1989 Aug.-Sep. 1991 Jun. 1992 Aug. 1992 Feb. 1993 Jun. 1994 Jul. 1994 Nov. 1996 Aug. 1998 Feb. 1999 May 2001 May 2002 May 2003 May 2003 (mid) Jul. 2003 (early) Jul. 2003 (mid) Jul. 2003 (late) Dec. 2003 Jan. 2004 May 2004 May 2005 Aug. 2005 May 2006 May 2007 May 2008 May 2009* May 2010 May 2011 May 2012 Nov. 2012
Gallup ABC/ Wash Post Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup CBS/NYT CBS /NYT ABC/Wash Post CBS/NYT Gallup Wash Post/Kaiser/Harvard Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup CBS/NYT Gallup Gallup CBS/NYT Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup
Note: * Beginning in May 2009, Gallups question wording read Do you think gay or lesbian relations between consenting adults should or should not be legal?
Please tell me whether you personally believe that in general it is morally acceptable or morally wrong. How about homosexual behavior? Morally Morally acceptable wrong May 2001 Gallup 40% 53% May 2002 Gallup 38 55 May 2003 Gallup 44 52 May 2004 Gallup 42 54 May 2005 Gallup 44 52 May 2006^ Gallup 44 51 May 2007 Gallup 47 49 May 2008 Gallup 48 48 May 2009* Gallup 49 47 May 2010 Gallup 52 43 May 2011 Gallup 56 39 May 2012 Gallup 54 42 Note: ^ Question wording changed homosexual relations. *Question wording changed to gay or lesbian relations. See Comparisons section to see where this issue ranked compared to other social issues.
Do you personally believe that (insert item) is morally acceptable, morally wrong, or is it not a moral issue? Having an abortion Feb. 2006 Aug. 2009 Feb. 2012 Jan. 2013 Homosexual behavior Feb. 2006 Aug. 2009 Divorce Aug. 2009 Feb. 2012 Drinking alcohol Aug. 2009 Using contraceptives Feb. 2012 Acceptable 12% 10 13 13 Wrong 52% 52 48 47 Not an issue 23% 25 25 27 Depends 11% 8 9 9
Pew Pew Pew Pew
Pew Pew
12% 9
50% 49
33% 35
1% 2
Pew Pew
20% 23
29% 21
40% 48
6% 6
Pew
20%
15%
56%
6%
Pew
42%
8%
43%
2%
Do you think homosexual relations between consenting adults is wrong, or not? Yes 41% 43 No 54% 48
Jan. 2009 May 2010
CBS CBS
Do you personally think that homosexual relations between consenting adults is morally wrong, or not a moral issue? Morally wrong 53% 53 48 55 Not a moral issue 38% 41 45 40
Apr. 1978 Jun. 1994 Oct. 1998 Jan. 2001
CNN/Time CNN/Time CNN/Time CNN/Time
Feb. 2004 Feb. 2010
CNN/Time CNN/ORC
51 48
45 50
Do you personally think that homosexual relationships between consenting adults is morally wrong, or not a moral issue? Morally wrong Not a moral issue Jan. 10-11, 2004 Harris/CNN/Time 55% 40% Feb. 5-6, 2004 Harris/CNN/Time 51 40 Feb. 10-15, 2010 CNN/ORC 48 50 Do you feel that homosexuality should be considered an acceptable alternative lifestyle or not? Acceptable 34% 38 38 44 42 50 52 51 54 46 54 51 54 57 57 Not acceptable 51% 57 50 50 52 46 43 44 43 49 42 45 41 39 40
Jun. 25-28, 1982 Jun. 4-8, 1992 Aug. 20, 1992 Mar. 15-17, 1996 April 18-20, 1997 Feb. 8-9, 1999 May 10-14, 2001 May 6-9, 2002 May 5-7, 2003 Jul. 25-27, 2003 May 2-4, 2004 May 2-5, 2005* May 8-11, 2006* May 10-13, 2007 May 8-11, 2008 Note: * Asked of half sample.
Gallup Gallup CBS/NYT Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup
Now Im going to read a few more pairs of statements. Again, just tell me whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own viewseven if neither is exactly right. Homosexuality is a way of life that should be accepted by society, or homosexuality is a way of life that should be discouraged by society. Should be accepted 46% 46 47 45 44 44 45 46 49 50 47 49 51 58 56 57 Should be discouraged 49% 48 48 50 49 49 50 48 44 41 45 44 38 33 32 36
Jul. 1994 Oct. 1994 Apr. 1995 Oct. 1995 Apr. 1996 Oct. 1996 Jun. 1997 Oct. 1997 Aug. 1999 Sep. 2000 Jun. 2003 Dec. 2004 Oct. 2006 Mar. 2011 Jan. 2012 Mar. 2013
Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew
Now Id like to ask you some questions about homosexuals or gays and lesbians as they are sometimes called. Today there are many different kinds of lifestyles which people find acceptable, such as homosexual relationships. How do you feel about this? Do you find it acceptable for other people but not for yourself, acceptable for other people and for yourself, or not acceptable at all? Acceptable for both 6% 6 12 11 Acceptable for others 35% 52 52 49 Not acceptable 59% 39 33 38
Mar. 14-18, 1978 Jun. 15-16, 1994 Oct. 14-15, 1998 Feb. 5-6, 2004
Yankelovich Yankelovich/CNN/Time Harris/CNN/Time Harris/CNN/Time
I have a few questions about efforts to protect the rights of gays and lesbians in this country. Some people believe that about the right amount of effort has been made to protect gay rights. Others believe more effort is needed. Still others think efforts to protect gay rights have gone too far in giving gays special privileges. Which comes closer to your opinion? Right amount 26% 26 22 More effort 27% 23 25 Too far 40% 42 45
May 22-23, 1996 Jun. 16-20, 1997 Feb. 5-6, 2004
PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek
Do you think more acceptance of gays and lesbians would be a good thing or a bad thing for the country or that it would not make much difference either way? Good for country PSRA/Kaiser 29% Pew 23 Bad for country 23% 31 Wouldnt make much difference 44% 42
Feb. 7-Sept. 4, 2000* Oct. 15-19, 2003
Note: * Question wording was preceded by Regardless of what you think is actually happening Here is a list of things some people today find acceptable behavior if people choose to do them, and others find unacceptable. For each one would you tell me whether you find it acceptable for anyone, or acceptable for others but not yourself, or not acceptable for anyonePeople living in a homosexual relationship? Acceptable for others 22% 27 33 29 Not acceptable 71% 60 53 55
Nov. 1986 Nov. 1991 Jul. 1998 Aug. 2003
Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP
Acceptable 4% 9 12 14
Would you like to see homosexuality be more widely accepted in this nation, less widely accepted, or is the acceptance of homosexuality in this nation about right? More widely 29% 29 Less widely 34% 33 About right 33% 32
Jan. 10-14, 2001 Jan. 7-9, 2002
Gallup Gallup
What do you think about sexual relations between two adults of the same gender? Do you think it is always wrong, or almost always wrong, or only wrong sometimes, or not wrong at all? Always wrong 67% 61 61 51 Almost always 5% 7 6 4 Only sometimes 7% 6 7 9 Not wrong 15% 18 19 27
Dec. 5-12, 1985 July 23-26, 1994 Oct. 27-30, 1995 Jun. 8-13, 2000
LAT LAT LAT LAT
We frequently hear of the influence special interest groups have in this country. Please look at this list and tell me for each group whether you think it has too much influence in our society today, or too little influence, or about the right amount: Gay rights organizations. Too much 48% 47 54 42 About right 26% 25 NA 30 Too little 11% 12 12 15
Jan. 1987 Jan. 1990 Jan. 1995 Feb. 2000
Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP
Note: Prior to 1995, the choice offered was gay rights groupsThe percentage of respondents who said gay rights organizations had too much influence (42 percent) is lower than those who thought lawyers organizations (56) and medical and health insurance industries (49) had too much influence. The bottom-ranked groups were organizations for the disabled (4), veterans groups (5), and senior citizens groups (6). Do you think that homosexual relations between consenting adults should be legal or illegal? Should be legal 58% 55 Should not be legal 32% 33
June 15-16, 1994 Oct. 14-15, 1998
Yankelovich/CNN/Time Yankelovich/CNN/Time
I would like to read you several statements about some social issues facing America. For each issue, please tell me whether you agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly with that statementHomosexuality should be considered a socially permissible lifestyle? Agree 43% 39 Disagree 53% 56
Jun. 4-8, 1993 Jun. 10-14, 1994
NBC/WSJ NBC/WSJ
Do you think same-sex relations between consenting adults is wrong, or not? Yes 39% No 53%
May 2010
CBS
On another topic, for each of the following issues, please indicate how you feel. Gay rights? Support 40% Neither 22% Oppose 33%
Aug. 2007
Harris Interactive
10
(Next, I'm going to read some behaviors. For each, please tell me whether you personally believe that it is morally acceptable, morally wrong, or is it not a moral issue? Feb. 1-5, 2006 Pew Wrong 88% 79 61 52 50 50 43 35 35 32 Acceptable 3% 5 5 12 10 12 23 22 17 6 Not a moral issue 7% 14 31 23 35 33 26 37 42 58
Married people having an affair Not reporting all income on taxes Drinking alcohol excessively Having an abortion Smoking marijuana Homosexual behavior Telling a lie to spare someones feelings Sex between unmarried adults Gambling Overeating
The Supreme Court recently made some important rulings. Please say for each of the following if you agree or disagree with itIt is not illegal for consenting adults to have homosexual sex in their own homes? Agree 72% Disagree 19%
Jul. 14-20, 2003
Harris Interactive
Do you think it should be legal or should not be legal for two men who are consenting adults to have sex with each other in their own home? (Asked of half sample) Should be legal 62% Should not be legal 31%
May 30-Jun. 1, 2003
Gallup
Do you think it should be legal or should not be legal for two women who are consenting adults to have sex with each other in their own home? (Asked of half sample) Should be legal 63% Should not be legal 30%
May 30-Jun. 1, 2003
Gallup
Do you think that the U.S. Supreme Court should overturn or uphold state laws that criminalize private, consenting sex between same-sex couples, but allow the same conduct between opposite-sex couples? Overturn 74% Uphold 26%
Apr. 17-23, 2003
Harris Interactive
In general do you agree or disagree with the decision that allowed states to make homosexual relations illegal? Agree 38% Disagree 57%
Feb. 26-Mar. 3, 2003
Quinnipiac
What is your impression of how most Americans feel about homosexual behaviordo most Americans think it is acceptable or not acceptable? Acceptable 21% Not acceptable 74%
May 10-14, 2001
Gallup
11
PERSONAL COMFORT LEVEL: Americans are growing more comfortable with gays and lesbians in a variety of occupations. Fifty-eight percent in 1998, up from 48 percent in 1994, say they would vote for a political candidate who is homosexual. Majorities now say they would see a doctor who is homosexual, allow a child to play in the home of a friend who has a homosexual parent, and allow a child to attend a school with homosexual staff members. In a 2004 LA Times poll, 26 percent said they would object to having a gay person as their childs teacher; 68 percent said it would not bother them. Solid majorities are comfortable being around people who are gay. No questions concerning personal comfort level with homosexuality have been asked since 2004, which perhaps indicates that society as a whole are quite comfortable around gays and lesbians.
Overall, do you sometimes feel uncomfortable when you are around gay men or does that not happen to you? How about being around lesbian women? Does that make you feel uncomfortable sometimes, or does that not happen to you? -----------Uncomfortable-----------w/both w/gay men w/lesbian women 20% 8% 10% 18 6 11 13 6 10 9 5 6 Not uncomfortable 40% 50 60 56
Sep. 18-23, 1983 Dec. 5-12, 1985 Jun. 8-13, 2000 Mar. 24-27, 2004
LAT LAT LAT LAT
Please tell me whether you would or would not do each of the following: Yes Buy something from a salesperson who is homosexual Jun. 15-16, 1994 Oct. 14-15, 1998 Vote for a political candidate who is homosexual Jun. 15-16, 1994 Oct. 14-15, 1998 See a doctor who is homosexual Jun. 15-16, 1994 Oct. 14-15, 1998 Yankelovich/CNN/Time Yankelovich/CNN/Time 39% 53 56% 41 Yankelovich/CNN/Time Yankelovich/CNN/Time 48% 58 45% 36 Yankelovich/CNN/Time Yankelovich/CNN/Time 75% 84 21% 12 No
Allow a child of yours to play in the home of a friend who has a homosexual parent Jun. 15-16, 1994 Oct. 14-15, 1998 Yankelovich/CNN/Time Yankelovich/CNN/Time 43% 54 50% 38
12
Allow a child of yours to attend a preschool which had homosexual staff members Jun. 15-16, 1994 Oct. 14-15, 1998 Allow a child of yours to watch a TV program which has a homosexual character on it Jun. 15-16, 1994 Oct. 14-15, 1998 Yankelovich/CNN/Time Yankelovich/CNN/Time 46% 49 47% 43 Yankelovich/CNN/Time Yankelovich/CNN/Time 42% 51 52% 42
If you had a child of elementary school age, would you object to having a gay person as your childs s chool teacher or would that not bother you? Object 26% Not bother 68%
Mar. 27-30, 2004
LAT
If you had a child, would you permit or not permit? Your child to play at the home of a friend who lives with a gay parent Mar. 27-30, 2004 LAT Permit 58% Not permit 30%
A gay person to baby-sit your child Mar. 27-30, 2004 LAT Your child to read a book that contains a story about a same-sex couple Mar. 27-30, 2004 LAT
45%
43%
45%
44%
In general, how comfortable are you personally being around homosexuals very comfortable, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable, or very uncomfortable? Very comfortable Nov. 27-Dec. 17, 1995 Sep. 17-Oct. 19, 1997 PSRA/Kaiser/ Harvard PSRA/Kaiser/ Harvard 32% 31 Somewhat comfortable 29% 30 Somewhat uncomfortable 15% 15 Very uncomfortable 17% 20
In general, would you say you, personally, are offended - or not offended - by homosexuality you see/hear on television? Offended 52% Not offended 46%
Feb. 6-8, 2004
Gallup
Now thinking generally about homosexuality in America, would you say your overall opinion of gay men is very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly unfavorable or very unfavorable? Very favorable 8% Mostly favorable 30% Mostly unfavorable 21% Very unfavorable 29%
Oct. 15-19, 2003
Pew
13
Now thinking generally about homosexuality in America, would you say your overall opinion of lesbian women is very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly unfavorable or very unfavorable? Very favorable 9% Mostly favorable 30% Mostly unfavorable 22% Very unfavorable 26%
Oct. 15-19, 2003
Pew
Now Id like you to think about how your attitudes toward gays and lesbians might have changed in the past few years. Have you become more accepting of gays and lesbians, have your attitudes not changed, or have you become less accepting of gays and lesbians? More accepting 32% Not changed 59% Less accepting 8%
Jul. 18-20, 2003
Gallup
Does it bother you to be around people who are gay or lesbian? If yes, is that a lot or a little? ----------Bother--------A lot A little 10% 12% Not bothered 74%
Aug. 10-27, 1998
Wash Post/Kaiser/Harvard
Now Id like to ask you some questions about homosexuals or gays or lesbians as they are sometimes called. In general, do you feel comfortable or uncomfortable when you are around someone you know is gay or lesbian? Comfortable 58% Uncomfortable 32%
Jun. 15-16, 1994
Yankelovich/CNN/Time
What is your attitude toward homosexuality? Do you personally approve of homosexual relations between consenting adults, or do you think its alright for other people but not for yourself, or do you oppose it for everyone? Alright for others 39%
Sep. 18-22, 1983
LAT
Approve 5%
Oppose 52%
EMPLOYMENT: Large majorities say that gays and lesbians should have equal rights in terms of job opportunities. And Americans tell the pollsters that homosexuals should be hired for a wide variety of occupations. Majorities now support hiring gays and lesbians as elementary school teachers, an occupation about which there had been resistance in the past.
In general, do you think homosexuals should or should not have equal rights in terms of job opportunities? Should 56% 59 71 74 79 78 79 78 80 Should not 33% 28 18 18 13 17 16 15 14
Jun. 17-20, 1977 Jun. 25-28, 1982 Oct. 12-15, 1989 Jun. 4-8, 1992 Aug. 20, 1992 Aug. 27, 1992 Jan. 12-14, 1993 Feb. 9-11, 1993 Apr. 22-24, 1993
Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup CBS/NYT PSRA/Newsweek CBS/NYT CBS/NYT Gallup
14
Feb. 3-4, 1994 Feb. 22-24, 1996 May 22-23, 1996 Jun. 14-16, 1996 Nov. 21-24, 1996 Jun. 19-20, 1997 July 28-30, 1998* Aug. 10-27, 1998 Feb. 8-9, 1999 Mar. 9-10, 2000* May 10-14, 2001 Apr. 25-26, 2002* May 6-9, 2002 May 5-7, 2003 May 19-21, 2003 Feb. 5-6, 2004* May 2-5, 2005 May 8-11, 2006 May 10-13, 2007 May 8-11, 2008 Dec. 3-4, 2008
PSRA/Newsweek CBS/NYT PSRA/Newsweek AP Gallup PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek WP/Kaiser/Harvard Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup Gallup Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup PSRA/Newsweek
74 83 84 86 84 84 83 87 83 83 85 85 86 88 88 87 87 89 89 89 87
19 12 12 10 12 13 14 9 13 12 11 10 11 9 10 10 11 9 8 8 10
Note: *Question wording was Thinking about what might be done to protect the rights of gays and lesbians, do you think there should or should not be equal rights for gays and lesbians in terms of job opportunities? For each statement, please tell me if you completely agree with it, mostly agree with it, mostly disagree with it, or completely disagree with it. School boards ought to have the right to fire teachers who are known homosexuals. Agree 51% 51 48 49 39 40 34 39 33 32 36 33 28 28 25 21 Disagree 42% 43 47 45 56 55 60 58 63 62 59 62 66 67 66 75
May 1987 May 1988 Feb. 1989 May 1990 Nov. 1991 Jun. 1992 May 1993 Jul. 1994 Nov. 1997 Sep. 1999 Aug. 2002 Aug. 2003 Jan. 2007 Apr. 2009 Apr. 2009 Apr. 2012
Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew PSRA/Newsweek Pew
Do you think homosexuals should or should not be hired for each of the following occupations? Elementary school teachers Should Should not Jun. 17-20, 1977 Gallup 27% 65% Oct. 12-15, 1989 Gallup 42 48 Jun. 4-8, 1992 Gallup 41 54 Aug. 27, 1992 PSRA/Newsweek 51 45 Feb 3-4, 1994 PSRA/Newsweek 47 46
15
Nov. 21-24, 1996 July 28-30, 1998* Feb. 8-9, 1999 Mar. 9-10, 2000* May 10-14, 2001 May 19-21, 2003 May 2-5, 2005* Dec. 3-4, 2008* May 7-10, 2009
Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup Gallup Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup
55 55 54 60 56 61 54 62 69
40 40 42 36 40 37 43 33 28
Note: In these askings, homosexuals was changed to gays and lesbians. Do you think homosexuals should or should not be hired for each of the following occupations? High School teachers. Should 47% 47 54 53 60 60 61 63 63 67 62 69 Should not 43% 49 42 40 34 34 36 32 33 31 36 26
Oct. 12-15, 1989 Jun. 4-8, 1992 Aug. 27, 1992 Feb 3-4, 1994 Nov. 21-24, 1996 July 28-30, 1998* Feb. 8-9, 1999 Mar. 9-10, 2000* May 10-14, 2001 May 19-21, 2003 May 2-5, 2005 Dec. 3-4, 2008*
Gallup Gallup PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup Gallup Gallup PSRA/Newsweek
Note: In these askings, homosexuals was changed to gays and lesbians. Do you think homosexuals should or should not be hired for each of the following occupations? Salesperson. Should 68% 79 82 83 84 90 88 90 88 91 92 90 Should not 22% 13 13 12 11 7 8 8 8 6 6 7
Jun. 17-20, 1977 Oct. 12-15, 1989 Jun. 4-8, 1992 Aug. 27, 1992 Feb 3-4, 1994 Nov. 21-24, 1996 July 28-30, 1998 Feb. 8-9, 1999 Mar. 9-10, 2000 May 10-14, 2001 May 19-21, 2003 May 2-5, 2005
Gallup Gallup Gallup PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup Gallup Gallup
Do you think homosexuals should or should not be hired for each of the following occupations? Doctors. Should 44% 53 69 70 75 75 Should not 44% 42 25 25 21 20
Jun. 17-20, 1977 Jun. 4-8, 1992 Nov. 21-24, 1996 July 28-30, 1998 Feb. 8-9, 1999 Mar. 9-10, 2000
Gallup Gallup Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup PSRA/Newsweek
16
May 10-14, 2001 May 19-21, 2003 May 2-5, 2005
Gallup Gallup Gallup
78 82 78
18 15 19
Do you think homosexuals should or should not be hired for each of the following occupations? Clergy Should 36% 44 43 53 51 54 52 54 40 56 49 Should not 54% 43 50 40 44 40 40 39 46 39 47
Jun. 17-20, 1977 Oct. 12-15, 1989 Jun. 4-8, 1992 Nov. 21-24, 1996 July 28-30, 1998 Feb. 8-9, 1999 Mar. 9-10, 2000 May 10-14, 2001 Apr. 25-26, 2002 May 19-21, 2003 May 2-5, 2005
Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup Gallup
Do you think homosexuals should or should not be hired for each of the following occupations? Professional Athletes. Should 85% 86 Should not 11% 8
Jul. 30-31, 1998 Mar. 9-10, 2000
PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek
We can choose our friends, but we cant always choose the people we work closely with. H ere is a list of some different types of people. For each one, would you tell me whether you strongly object to working around them, or prefer not to work around them, or wouldnt mind working around thempeople who are homosexual? Strongly object 25% 25 16 Prefer not to NA 27% 33 Wouldnt mind NA 45% 46
Jan. 1982 Apr. 1987 Jan. 1992
Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP
These days, do you think it is necessary to have laws to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination in hiring and promotion, or dont you think its necessary? Necessary 53% Not necessary 43%
May 2010
CBS
Do you favor or oppose laws to protect gays against job discrimination? Mar. 27-30, 2004 LAT Favor 72% Oppose 18%
17
MILITARY SERVICE: At the time dont ask, dont tell was made the official US policy towards gays and lesbians in the military in December 1993, the country was fairly divided on whether homosexuals should be able to serve openly. Since then, however, solid majorities have supported the idea of openly gay and lesbian Americans serving in the military. This support has remained strong since dont ask, dont tell was ended in September 2011.
Do you favor or oppose allowing gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military? Favor strongly 46% 53 50 Favor not so strongly 16% 16 18 Oppose not so strongly 9% 8 7 Oppose strongly 19% 15 15
Oct. 2010 Nov. 2010 Sep. 2011
CBS News CBS News CBS News
DK/NA 10% 8 10
Do you favor or oppose gays and lesbians serving openly in the military? Favor 58% 64 56 62 Oppose 28 % 28 31 28
Feb. 2010 Aug. 2010 Oct. 2010 Oct. 22-26, 2010
CBS CBS CBS CBS/NYT
Do you favor or oppose allowing openly gay men and lesbian women to serve in the military? (Gallup/ USA Today) Do you favor or oppose permitting people who are openly gay or lesbian to serve in the military? (CNN/ORC) Do you favor or oppose allowing gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military? (CBS News) Favor 63% 69 53% 52 69 67 72 69% 68 Oppose 32% 26 41% 39 27 28 23 23% 22
Nov. 2004 May 2009 Jun. 1994* Oct. 1998* Feb. 2010 Sep. 2010 Nov.2010 Nov. 2010 Oct. 2011
Gallup/USA Today Gallup/USA Today CNN/Time CNN/Time CNN/ORC CNN/ORC CNN/ORC CBS CBS
Note: *Question wording omitted people who are. Federal law currently prohibits openly gay men and women from serving in the military. Do you think this law should be repealed or not? Ban on gays in the military should be repealed Should not 56% 37% 57 36 58 34
Apr. 2009 Feb. 2010 Nov. 2010
Quinnipiac Quinnipiac Quinnipiac
18
As I list some programs and proposals that are being discussed in this country today, please tell me whether you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly opposeallowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military? Favor 52% 58 60 59 61 60 58 Oppose 45% 32 32 32 27 30 27
Jul. 1994 * Jul. 2005 * Mar. 2006* Mar. 2009* Feb. 2010 Jul.-Aug. 2010* Nov. 2010
Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew
Note: *Question asked as part of a list. Do you favor or oppose permitting homosexuals to serve in the military? Favor 42% 67 70 75 69 Oppose 42% 17 19 19 21 Dont know 15% 16 ----
Feb. 1993 Jan. 11-15, 2009 Feb. 2010 Aug. 2010 Oct. 6-8, 2010
CBS CBS/NYT CBS CBS CBS
Do you think homosexuals/gays and lesbians who DO publicly disclose their sexual orientation should be allowed to serve in the military or not?* Should be allowed 44% 62 75 75 77 Should not 55% 35 22 24 21 Unsure 2% 3 3 1 2
May 1993 Jan. 2001 Jul. 2008 Feb. 2010 Dec. 2010
ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post
Note: Homosexuals and gays and lesbians each asked of half the sample. Do you think homosexuals/gays and lesbians who do NOT publicly disclose their sexual orientation should be allowed to serve in the military or not?* Should be allowed 63% 75 78 83 83 Should not 35% 22 18 15 14 Unsure 2% 3 5 1 4
May 1993 Jan. 2001 Jul. 2008 Feb. 2010 Dec. 2010
ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post
Note: Homosexuals and gays and lesbians each asked of half the sample. Do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military? Strongly favor 18% 23 21 Favor 43% 35 38 Oppose 17% 16 16 Strongly oppose 10% 11 8
Feb. 2010 Nov. 2010 Dec. 2010
Pew Pew Pew
19
As you may know, Congress is considering several issues during its lame duck session between now and the end of the year. The lame duck session includes many current members of Congress who will leave when the new Congress takes over in January. How important is it to you that the current lame duck Congress complete action on each of the following this year: very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all? How about passing legislation to allow openly gay men and women to serve in the military? Very important Gallup/USA Today 32% Somewhat important 24% Not too important 18% Not important at all 23%
Nov. 2010
Now, thinking about the military: Let me read you three statements about gay men and women serving in the military, and please tell me which one comes closest to your point of view. I favor allowing gay men and women to serve in the military. I favor allowing gay men and women to serve in the military under the existing dont ask, dont tell policy. I oppose allowing gay men and women to serve in the military. Allow to serve 50% Favor under DADT 38% Oppose service 10%
Nov. 2010
NBC/WSJ
Suppose that on Election Day you could vote on key issues as well as candidates. Please tell me whether you would vote for or against a law that would do each of the following. First, would you vote for or against a law that would allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military? Vote for 67% Vote against 28% Unsure 5%
Dec. 2010
Gallup
What if they openly announce their sexual orientation? In that case would you favor or oppose permitting homosexuals to serve in the military? Favor 37% 62 64 Oppose 56% 26 9
Feb. 1993 Jan. 11-15, 2009 Aug. 20-24, 2010
CBS CBS/NYT CBS
Do you think people who are openly gay or homosexual should or should not be allowed to serve in the U.S. military? Should be allowed 79% 79 81 78 Should not 18% 18 17 20
Dec. 5-7, 2003 May 4-6, 2007 Dec. 19-21, 2008 May 21-23, 2010
Gallup/CNN/USA Today CNN/ORC CNN/ORC CNN/ORC
Do you favor or oppose allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military? Favor 61% 64 61 Oppose 30% 25 30
Jan. 2000 Aug. 2003 Feb. 2010
Fox/OD Fox/OD Fox/OD
20
Do you favor or oppose the policy sometimes called Dont Ask, Dont Tell in which the U.S. military does not ask new recruits whether they are gay or lesbian, but prohibits gays and lesbians from serving in the military if they reveal their sexual orientation? Favor 38% 48 Oppose 57% 47 Unsure 6% 5
Aug. 2007* Apr. 2009
CNN/ORC CNN/ORC
Note: The 2007 asking was worded Do you favor or oppose the plan in which the U.S. military does not ask new recruits whether they are homosexual, but would still prohibit homosexuals from serving if they reveal their sexual orientation? Do you think there should or should not be gays and lesbians serving openly in the military? Should 56% 57 60 66 Should not 38% 35 29 29
Jul. 1998 Mar. 2000 Feb. 2004 Dec. 2008
PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek
Do you think gays and lesbians should or should not be able to serve openly in the military? Should 63% 68 Should not 28% 23
Mar. 2007 Aug. 2007
Do you favor or oppose the plan in which the U.S. military does not ask new recruits whether they are homosexual, but would still prohibit homosexuals from serving if they reveal their sexual orientation? Favor 44% 38 Oppose 48% 57
May 1993 Aug. 2007
CNN/Time CNN/ORC
Do you think homosexuals should or should not be hired for each of the following occupations? Armed Forces. Should Should not Jun. 17-20, 1977 Gallup 51% 38% Oct. 12-15, 1989 Gallup 60 29 Jun. 4-8, 1992 Gallup 57 37 Aug. 27, 1992 PSRA/Newsweek 59 36 Nov. 19-20, 1992 Gallup 48 44 Jun. 4-8, 1993 NBC/WSJ 47 43 Feb 3-4, 1994 PSRA/Newsweek 58 35 Nov. 21-24, 1996 Gallup 65 29 July 28-30, 1998 PSRA/Newsweek 66 30 Feb. 8-9, 1999 Gallup 70 26 Mar. 9-10, 2000 PSRA/Newsweek 69 25 May 10-14, 2001 Gallup 72 23 May 19-21, 2003 Gallup 80 18 May 2-5, 2005 Gallup 76 22
21
Do you favor or oppose allowing openly gay men and lesbian women to serve in the military? Favor 52% 63 Oppose 40% 32
Jul. 24-27, 1993 NBC/WSJ Nov. 19-21, 2004 Gallup/CNN/USA Today
Which of the following, if any, do you think has been Barack Obama and the Congress biggest accomplishment over the last two years? Pew Jan. 2011 25% 21 18 11 9 8 7
Health care legislation Extending tax cuts The economic stimulus package Allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military Financial regulation legislation DK/Refused No successes/None
Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Barack Obama is handling the issue of gays in the military? Approve 54% Disapprove 32% DK/No answer 14%
Jan. 2011
Quinnipiac
Note: Asked of registered voters. Would you vote for or against a law that would allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the U.S. military? For 67% Against 28%
Dec. 2010
Gallup
Some people say that allowing openly gay men and women to serve in the military would be divisive for the troops and hurt their ability to fight effectively. Do you agree or disagree? Would be divisive to allow gays to serve 35% 30
Apr. 21-27, 2009 Feb. 2-8, 2010
Quinnipiac Quinnipiac
Would not 58% 65
Some people say that not allowing openly gay men and women to serve in the military is discrimination. Do you agree or disagree? Agree that not allowing gays in the military is discrimination 60% 66
Apr. 21-27, 2009 Feb. 2-8, 2010
Is not 36% 31
Do you think the military should aggressively pursue disciplinary action against gay service members whose orientation is revealed against their will by third parties, or should this practice be ended? Disclipinary action 10% End practice 82% Unsure 8%
Feb. 2-8, 2010
Quinnipiac
22
Do you think gay military personnel should face any restrictions on exhibiting their sexual orientation on the job or not? Should 54% Should not 38% Unsure 8%
Feb. 2-8, 2010
Quinnipiac
Do you think the Pentagon should be responsible to provide for the domestic partners of gay personnel or not? Should 43% Should not 50% Unsure 8%
Feb. 2-8, 2010
Quinnipiac
Do you think heterosexual military personnel should be required to share quarters with gay personnel or not? Should 45% Should not 46% Unsure 8%
Feb. 2-8, 2010
Quinnipiac
Personally, how comfortable are you in the presence of gays and lesbians? Comfortable 73% Uncomfortable 19%
Oct. 24-26, 2006
Zogby International
Note: Sample is of U.S. military personnel of who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan. How does the presence of gays or lesbians in your unit impact your personal morale? Negative 28% No impact 66% Positive 6%
Oct. 24-26, 2006
Zogby International
Note: Sample is of U.S. military personnel of who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan. How does the presence of gays or lesbians in your unit impact your units overall morale? Negative 27% No impact 64% Positive 3%
Oct. 24-26, 2006
Zogby International
Note: Sample is of U.S. military personnel of who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan. Do you agree or disagree with allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military? Agree 26% Neutral 32% Disagree 37%
Oct. 24-26, 2006
Zogby International
Note: Sample is of U.S. military personnel of who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan. Do you think gays or lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the United States military? Yes 79% No 18%
May 4-9, 2005
Boston Globe/UNH
23
GAYS AND LESBIANS IN POLITICS: Americans are becoming increasingly comfortable with the idea of gay and lesbian officeholders. According to Gallup, around seven in ten Americans say they would vote for a well-qualified gay or lesbian candidate for president. This is a major switch from Gallups first asking of the question in July 1978, in which only about a quarter of Americans said they would vote for a homosexual candidate for the nations highest office.
If your party nominated a generally well-qualified person for president who happened to be a homosexual, would you vote for that person? Yes 26% 29 59 55 55 56 67 69 68 No 66% 64 37 43 42 41 32 29 30
Jul. 21-24, 1978 Apr. 29-May 2, 1983 Feb. 19-21, 1999 Feb. 9-11, 2007 Mar. 2-4, 2007 Dec. 6-9, 2007 Jun. 9-12, 2011* Aug. 4-7, 2011* Jun. 7-10, 2012*
Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup
Note: * In these askings, the words a homosexual were replaced with gay or lesbian.
Do you think homosexuals should or should not be hired for each of the following occupations? Member of the presidents cabinet. Should 54% 56 71 74 75 79 75 Should not 39% 34 24 23 21 19 23
Jun. 4-8, 1992 Nov. 19-20, 1992 Nov. 21-24, 1996 Feb. 8-9, 1999 May 10-14, 2001 May 19-21, 2003 May 2-5, 2005
Do you think homosexuals should or should not be hired for each of the following occupations? Major political officeholders. Should 68% 71 Should not 27% 24
Jul. 30-31, 1998 Mar. 9-10, 2000
Let me mention several things you might learn about a candidate running for president. For each one, please tell me whether this should or should not disqualify them from becoming president of the United States. If someone is gay or lesbian, do you think this should or should not disqualify this person from becoming president of the United States? Should disqualify 47% 42 Should not disqualify 47% 53
Oct. 25-29, 1991 Feb. 28-Mar. 2, 1992
NBC/WSJ NBC/WSJ
24
Would you say you are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports same-sex marriage, a candidate who opposes same-sex marriage, or would it not make much difference in how you might vote? More likely to vote for supporter 25% More likely to Would not make vote for opponent much difference 20% 54%
Mar. 2012
NBC/WSJ
If you knew that a presidential candidate was a strong supporter of gay rights, including same-sex marriages and gays and lesbians serving openly in the military, would that make you more likely or less likely to vote for that candidate or would it not make much difference either way? More likely 12% Less likely 34% Not much difference 51%
Aug. 2007
PSRA/Newsweek
Note: Sample is registered voters. If a candidate for political office were to come out in favor of legalizing gay marriages, would you be more likely to vote for the candidate, less likely, or would that make no difference? More likely 10% Less likely 48% No difference 39%
Feb. 5-6, 2004
Harris/CNN/Time
Lets go through this list again, this time please tell me if you were considering a candidate whom you would otherwise support, and you discovered that they had had a homosexual relationship, would you still vote for them, probably vote against them, or definitely vote against them? Still vote for 53% Probably vote against 14% Definitely vote against 26%
May 10-11, 2000
Fox News/Opinion Dynamics
Note: Asked of registered voters. The percentage of respondents who said they definitely would vote against a candidate who had a homosexual relationship (26 percent) is higher than the percentage of those who would vote against a candidate who abused alcohol (11), had an extramarital affair (13), used marijuana (17), or been treated for a mental illness (25). It is lower than the percentage of those who definitely would vote against a candidate who lied on his resume (34), used cocaine (37), or cheated on his taxes (38). Id like to ask whether certain information about a candidate for political office would cause you to vote against him, regardless of other factors. What if you found out that the candidate was a homosexualwould that alone cause you to vote against him? Yes No Sep. 19-20, 1996 PSRA/Newsweek 37% 58% Do you think homosexuals should be allowed to serve in a position of high governmental office, for instance as a member of the Presidents Cabinet, or dont you think so? Should 47% Should not 43%
May 27-30, 1992
CBS
If you were considering voting for a presidential candidate and then learned that candidate was a homosexual, would that cause you to vote for someone else, or would that be one factor among many, or would it not affect your vote? Vote for someone else 44% One factor among many 24% Would not affect vote 29%
Oct. 15-18, 1991
CBS/NYT
25
Im going to read you a few attributes that might be found in a candidate for president. Tell me if each would make you more likely to vote for that candidate for president, or less likely to vote for that candidate, or if i t wouldnt mattera homosexual? More likely 1% Not matter 23% Less likely 74%
Apr. 29-May 8, 1988
AP/Media General
KNOW SOMEONE?: Awareness of homosexuality has grown, or perhaps people are more willing to acknowledge it to pollsters. Twenty-two percent in 1985 told PSRA/Newsweek interviewers that they had a gay friend or close acquaintance; in 2008, 66 percent gave that response. Around seven in ten said they have a work colleague, close friend, or family member who is gay or lesbian, according to a May 2012 CBS/New York Times question.
Please tell me if any of the following apply to you . . . ? Work with someone you know is gay or lesbian Yes 20% 19 31 25 31 32 38 No 78% 79 66 72 67 66 59
Aug. 27, 1992 Feb. 3-4, 1994 May 22-23, 1996 Jun. 19-20, 1997 July 28-30, 1998 Mar. 9-10, 2000 Dec. 3-4, 2008
PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek
Have someone in your family who is gay or lesbian Aug. 27, 1992 Feb. 3-4, 1994 May 22-23, 1996 Jun. 19-20, 1997 July 28-30, 1998 Mar. 9-10, 2000 Dec. 3-4, 2008 PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek 9% 12 18 18 21 23 33 90% 88 80 80 76 75 64
Have a friend or close acquaintance who is gay or lesbian Aug. 1-2, 1985 Feb. 3-4, 1994 May 22-23, 1996 Jun. 19-20, 1997 July 28-30, 1998 Mar. 9-10, 2000 Dec. 3-4, 2008 PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek 22% 43 56 50 55 56 66 77% 56 42 47 44 42 32
Do you have a work colleague, close friend, or relative who is gay or lesbian? Yes 55% 63 69 No 44% 55 28
Mar. 2004 May 2010 May 2012
CBS/NYT CBS/NYT CBS/NYT
26
Do you happen to have a family member or close friend who is gay or lesbian? Yes 32% 41 45 49 49 No 66% 57 55 51 50
Jun. 1994 Oct. 1998 Aug. 2007 Apr. 2009 Nov. 2010
Yankelovich/CNN/Time Yankelovich/CNN/Time CNN/ORC CNN/ORC CNN/ORC
Do you happen to personally know someone who is gay or lesbian? Yes 47% 77 65 No 51% 22 33
Aug. 20, 1992 May 20-24, 2010 Dec. 6-9, 2012
CBS/NYT CBS/NYT NBC/WSJ
Do you have a close friend or family member who is gay? Yes 41% 44 No 58% 55
Dec. 2006-Jan. 2007 Apr. 2009
Pew Pew
Do you have any friends or relatives of co-workers who have told you, personally, that they are gay or lesbian? Yes 24% 37 56 58 57 No 75% 62 43 42 42
Dec. 5-12, 1985 Jul. 17-19, 1998 Jul. 18-20, 2003 Jan. 9-11, 2004 May 30-Jun. 1, 2008
Harris LAT Gallup Gallup Gallup
For each description I read, please tell me if it applies to you or not. Do you have a friend, colleague, or family member who is gay? Yes 39% 45 45 60 No 60% 53 52 38
Jul. 14-Sep. 9, 1999 Aug. 14-25, 2002 Jun. 24-Jul. 8, 2003 Oct. 15-19, 2003
Pew Pew Pew Pew
Do you happen to have a family member or close friend who is gay or lesbian, or not? Yes 52% No 47% Dont know/Refused 1%
Apr. 2011
Kaiser
Do you have close friends or close relatives who are gay or lesbian? Yes 63% No 34%
Apr. 21-27, 2009
Quinnipiac
27
Now Id like to ask you if you ever had the following experiences in your lifeha d a friend who was openly gay or lesbian? Yes No Mar.-Apr. 2006 Kaiser Family Foundation National 64% 35% Black men 48 51 Black women 62 38 White men 59 41 White women 70 29 Do you have a friend, colleague, or family member who is gay or lesbian? Yes 43% No 55%
Oct. 7-Nov. 24, 2003
NAES
Thinking of all the people you know, either well or even casuallydo you know anyone who is openly gay? (If no) Do you know anyone who you think is gay? Yes, openly 73% Yes, think is gay 7% No 19%
Jun. 8-13, 2000
LAT
Do you have any close personal friends who are gay or lesbian or not? Yes 41% No 58%
Jan. 6-10, 2000
Harris Interactive
Do you yourself have a friend, family member, or acquaintance who is gay or lesbian, or not? Yes 59% 63 No 40% 36
Aug. 10-27, 1998 Feb. 4-8, 2010
Wash Post/Kaiser/Harvard ABC/Wash Post
Do you have any close personal friends or relatives who are gay or lesbian, or not? Yes 37% No 62%
Jul. 17-19, 1998
Harris Interactive
Do you happen to know any males who are gay or women who are lesbian? Yes 54% No 44%
Jun. 14-18, 1996
AP
Do you have a co-worker, friend or relative who is openly homosexual? Yes 23% No 76%
Jul. 19-21, 1993
Gallup
Do you personally know anyone who is gay or lesbian? Yes 61% No 37%
Jun. 4-8, 1993
NBC/WSJ
28
Do you have any close friends or family members who are gay or lesbian? Yes 19% 22 No 79% 77
Jan. 12-14, 1993 Feb. 9-11, 1993
CBS/NYT CBS/NYT
Do you have a friend or someone you associate with on a regular basis who is a male homosexual? Yes 13% No 87%
Jun. 15-19, 1990
ABC
Do you know any friends, or relatives, or co-workers who have told you, personally, that they are gay or lesbian? (If not) Do you know any friends, or relatives, or co-workers who you seriously suspect are gay or lesbian but they havent told you that? Told you personally 24% Suspect are homosexual 21% No, dont know or suspect 54%
Dec. 5-12, 1985
LAT
Do you know any friends or co-workers who are openly homosexual? (If not) Do you know any friends or co-workers whom you suspect are homosexuals? Know friends/ coworkers openly homosexual 30%
Sep. 18-22, 1983
LAT
Suspect are homosexual 14%
No, dont know or suspect 53%
NATURE/NURTURE: One of the most dramatic changes in attitudes about homosexuality appears to be about its cause. More people today than in the past say that people are born homosexual or that it is an orientation that they cannot change. In a Gallup question from 1977, thirteen percent said a person is born gay or lesbian; in 2012, 40 percent gave that response.
In your view, is homosexuality something a person is born with or is homosexuality due to other factors such as upbringing and environment? --------------------------------Total sample --------------------------Born Upbringing/ with Environment Both (vol.) Neither (vol.) 13% 56% 14% 3% 17 52 13 2 19 48 12 2 24 51 9 16 31 40 13 3 33 44 13 10 34 44 13 1 28 40 17 15 40 39 9 3 40 36 12 4 38 44 11 2 37 41 11 3 38 44 10 2 42 37 11 2
Jun. 1977 Jun. 1982 Oct. 1989 Mar. 1991 Nov. 1996 Jul. 1998 Feb. 1999 Mar. 2000 May 2001 May 2002 May 2003 May 2004 May 2005 May 2006*
Gallup Gallup Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup
29
May 2007 Jun. 2007 May 2008^ May 2009 May 2010 May 2011 Sep. 2011 May 2012
Gallup CNN/ORC Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup CNN/ORC Gallup
42 39 41 35 36 40 45 40
35 42 38 42 37 42 39 35
11 10 9 12 12 6 9 11
2 3 2 2 3 3 3 4
Note: * Asked of half sample. ^ 1977 to 2008 question wording read in your view, is homosexuality something a person is born with, or is homosexuality due to factors such as upbringing and environmen t. Demographic Breakdowns Sep. 2011 CNN/ORC Born with 39% 50 46 Upbringing/ Environment 41% 39 39 Both (vol.) 13% 7 10 Neither (vol.) 3% 2 1
Ages 18 to 34 35-49 50-64
Do you think being homosexual is something people choose to be, or do you think it is something they cannot change? Choose to be 44% 42 44 43 39 35 37 36 Cannot change 43% 45 44 41 47 53 51 51
Feb. 1993 Jan.-May 1994 Dec. 2003 Mar. 2004 Nov. 2004 Oct. 2006 Sep. 2008* May 2010
CBS/NYT NORC/GSS CBS/NYT CBS/NYT CBS/NYT CBS/NYT CBS/NYT CBS/NYT
Do you think that someone who is homosexual can change their sexual orientation if they choose to do so, or dont you think so? Change Dont orientation think so Oct. 14-15, 1998 Yankelovich/CNN/Time 51% 36% Jan. 10-11, 2001 Yankelovich/CNN/Time 42 45 Jun. 22-24, 2007 CNN/ORC 36 56 Do you think a gay or lesbian persons sexual orientation can be changed or cannot be changed? Can be changed 42% 39 Cant be changed 42% 49
Oct. 15-19, 2003 Jul. 6-19, 2006
Pew SRB/Pew Research Center
Do you think being homosexual is something that people choose to be, or do you think its just the way they are? Choose to be 40% 33 The way they are 49% 57
Jun. 23-26, 1994 Oct. 12-14, 2004^
ABC/Wash Post ABC
Note: ^ Asked of likely voters.
30
In your opinion, what causes someone to be gay? Is it something that people are born with, or is it something that develops because of the way people are brought up, or is it just the way that people choose to live? Born 16% 20 31 29 33 30 Brought up 25% 23 14 15 11 14 Choice 37% 42 35 32 37 42
Sep. 18-23, 1983 Dec. 5-12, 1985 Apr. 22-24, 1993 Jul. 19-21, 1993 Jun. 8-10, 2000 Oct. 15-19, 2003
LAT LAT Gallup Gallup LAT Pew
In your opinion, what causes someone to be gay or lesbian - Do you believe that people are born gay or lesbian, or that people become gay or lesbian because of the way they are brought up, or is it just the way that some people choose to live? Born that way 42% Way brought up 6% Choice 36%
Apr. 21-27, 2009
Quinnipiac
From what you know about gay and lesbian people, do you think that gay and lesbian people choose to be homosexual or are born homosexual? Are born Choose to be homosexual homosexual May 17-21, 2000 AP 30% 46% A scientific magazine recently repudiated its own study showing that homosexuality may be genetic. Meanwhile, a new ad campaign features men and women who have left homosexuality. On the issue, do you personally believe that homosexuals are born that way or believe that homosexuals are not born that way and can change? Not born that way/ Can change 45%
Jul. 23-26, 1999
Wirthlin Worldwide
Born that way 41%
Do you think that homosexuality is something a person is born with, or is it due to factors such as how they were raised or to their environment? Born with 33% Raised/Environment 40%
Oct. 14-15, 1998
Yankelovich/CNN/Time
In your opinion, what is the main cause of homosexuality? Are people born homosexual, do people become homosexual because of their experiences while growing up, or do people choose to be homosexual on their own? Born 32% Experience 20% Choice 33%
Aug. 10-27, 1998
Wash Post/Kaiser/Harvard
Do you think that being homosexual is something people choose to be, or do you think that people are born homosexual and it is something they cannot change? Choose to be 38% Cannot change 41%
July 25-27, 1998
NBC/WSJ
31
GAY MARRIAGE: The first national poll question we have been able to locate about samesex marriage was asked by the National Opinion Research Center in 1988. The responses are displayed below. In 1996, Gallup found that 27 percent thought marriages between homosexuals should be recognized by law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriage. In the May 2012 Gallup asking, five in ten said they supported same-sex marriage. As of the time of this writing, nine states and the District of Columbia have legalized gay marriage.
Do you agree or disagree: Homosexual couples should have the right to marry one another? Strongly agree 3% 12 15 15 21 Agree 9% 19 20 24 25 Neither 15% 14 14 13 13 Disagree 26% 20 16 16 16 Strongly disagree 47% 35 35 32 25
1988 2004 2006 2008 2010
NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS
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? Should be valid 27% 35 42 37 39 42 46 40 40 40 44 44 44 40 44 51 53 53 48 50 53 53 Should not be valid 68% 62 55 59 58 56 53 57 56 56 53 55 54 57 53 47 45 46 48 48 46 44
Mar. 1996* Feb. 1999* May 2004* Aug. 2005* May 2006*^ May 2006^ May 2007 Aug. 2007 Oct. 2007 May 2008^ Jun. 2008 # Dec. 2008# Apr. 2009# May 2009 May 2010 Apr. 2011# May 2011 Sep. 2011# Dec. 2011 May 2012 Nov. 2012 Mar. 2013#
Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup CNN/ORC CNN/ORC Gallup CNN/ORC CNN/ORC CNN/ORC Gallup Gallup CNN/ORC Gallup CNN/ORC Gallup/USA Today Gallup Gallup/USA Today CNN/ORC
Note: *Question wording was, Do you think marriages between homosexual couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages? ^ Asked of a half sample. # Starting in 2008, CNN/ORC askings are worded Do you think marriages between gay and lesbian couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?
32
Demographic breakdowns of May 2012 Should be legal 65% 57 22 38% 51 88 Should not be legal 34% 40 74 59% 47 12
Democrats Independents Republicans Protestants Catholics No religious identity
Weekly Almost weekly/monthly Seldom/never
--Religious service attendance-31% 67% 45 53 67 32
Do you think it should be legal or illegal for gay and lesbian couples to get married? Legal 37% 41 39 38 39 36 49 47 53 51 52 53 53 58 Illegal 55% 55 55 59 58 58 46 50 44 45 43 39 42 36
Sep. 2003 Jan. 2004 Feb. 2004 Mar. 2004 Aug. 2005 Jun. 2006 Apr. 2009 Feb. 2010 Mar. 2011 Jul. 2011 Mar. 2012 May 2012 Aug. 2012 Mar. 2013
ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post
Do you believe gays and lesbians should be allowed to get legally married, allowed a legal partnership similar to but not called marriage, or should there be no legal recognition given to gay and lesbian relationships? Legally married 19% 20 25 27 30 33 37 37 Legal partnership No legal recognition 24% 47% 33 40 26 40 25 39 30 32 33 29 29 28 33 25
Jan. 12-13, 2000 Mar. 3-4, 2004 May 18-19. 2004 Jun. 13-14, 2006 Nov. 4-5, 2006 May. 12-13, 2009 Aug. 10-11, 2010 May 13-15, 2012
FOX/OD FOX/OD FOX/OD FOX/OD FOX/OD FOX/OD FOX/OD FOX/OD
Do you think it should be legal or illegal for gay and lesbian couples to get married? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat? Strongly favor ABC/Wash Post 31% ABC/Wash Post 31 ABC/Wash Post 36 Somewhat favor 18% 16 17 Somewhat oppose 7% 9 9 Strongly oppose 39% 42 35
Apr. 2009 Feb. 2010 Mar. 2011
33
Jul. 2011 Mar. 2012 May 2012
ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post
32 36 39
19 17 14
9 7 7
36 36 32
Demographic breakdowns, Age Feb. 2010 18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 65+ Mar. 2011 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Jul. 2011 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+ Demographic breakdowns, Education Feb. 2010 LT HS Grad HS Grad Some College College Plus Mar. 2011 HS Grad or Less Some College College Plus Jul. 2011 HS Grad or Less Some College College Plus Demographic breakdowns, Gender Feb. 2010 Male Female Mar. 2011 Male Female Jul. 2011 Male Female 27% 37 19 20 10 7 40 33 34% 37 19% 15 9% 9 36% 35 26% 36 16% 16 8% 9 47% 37 24% 36 40 18% 20 20 9% 7 9 45% 33 26 30% 33 45 16% 19 18 11% 8 8 40% 40 25 -28% 30 37 -17% 15 17 -8% 9 9 -46% 43 32 44% 36 26 18 21% 20 21 14 8% 8 9 9 24% 33 40 52 52% 39 25 23 16% 19 20 10 6% 9 11 10 25% 29 40 54 51% 29 32 23 20 14% 23 16 17 10 7% 7 10 9 10 26% 38 41 48 57
34
Demographic breakdowns, Ideology Feb. 2010 Liberal Moderate Conservative Mar. 2011 Liberal Moderate Conservative Jul. 2011 Liberal Moderate Conservative Demographic breakdowns, Income Feb. 2010 < $20k $20k 34,999 $35k 49,999 $50k 74,999 > $75k Mar. 2011 < $35k $35k 49,999 $50k 74,999 > $75k Jul. 2011 < $35k $35k 49,999 $50k 74,999 > $75k Demographic breakdowns, Party ID Feb. 2010 Democrat Republican Independent Mar. 2011 Democrat Republican Independent Jul. 2011 Democrat Republican Independent 45% 14 34 19% 14 25 5% 12 10 27% 57 30 46% 15 40 18% 16 18 7% 12 9 26% 55 30 45% 13 32 15% 14 18 6% 11 9 32% 58 38 30% 35 30 35 19% 16 23 21 8% 8 9 9 39% 38 36 31 31% 37 33 42 18% 15 19 19 8% 7 11 10 39% 38 35 28 37% 39 29 25 30 14% 13 19 16 20 9% 9 10 7 11 38% 39 39 50 36 56% 36 12 14% 26 17 5% 7 13 23% 27 55 62% 38 17 14% 25 12 4% 10 12 18% 24 57 55% 31 16 16% 23 11 5% 10 10 23% 31 62
35
In general, do you support or oppose same-sex marriage? Support 36% 48 47 Oppose 55% 46 43
Jul. 2008 Dec. 2012 Mar. 2013
Quinnipiac Quinnipiac Quinnipiac
Note: Asked of registered voters. Do you favor or oppose legalizing same-sex marriage? Favor 42% 46 Oppose 44% 46
Oct. 2012 Feb. 2013
Fox News Fox News
Note: Asked of registered voters. Do you favor or oppose allowing gay and lesbian couples to enter into same-sex marriages? Favor 25% 32 32 30 41 49 51 Oppose 67% 51 56 62 49 40 40
Sep. 1996* Jul. 2003 Dec. 2003 Mar. 2004 Oct. 2009 Mar. 2012 Dec. 2012
NBC/WSJ NBC/WSJ NBC/WSJ NBC/WSJ NBC/WSJ NBC/WSJ NBC/WSJ
Note: *Asked of registered voters. Do you think marriages between gay and lesbian couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages? Same rights 44% 44 44 51 53 Not recognize 53% 55 54 47 46
Jun. 26-29, 2008 Dec. 19-21, 2008 Apr. 23-36, 2009 Apr. 9-10, 2011 Sep. 9-11, 2011
CNN/ORC CNN/ORC CNN/ORC CNN/ORC CNN/ORC
Would you support or oppose a law in your state that would allow same-sex couples to get married? Support a law allowing gay marriage in your state 38% 46
Apr. 21-27, 2009 Jul. 5-11, 2011
Oppose 55% 48
I am going to read you a list of some programs and proposals that are being discussed in this country today. For each one, please tell me whether you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose itAllowing gays and lesbians to marry legally? Strongly favor 6% 8 10 9 Strongly oppose 41% 34 30 35
May 31-Jun. 9, 1996 Mar. 5-18, 2001 Jun. 24-Jul.8, 2003 Oct. 15-19, 2003
Pew Pew Pew Pew
Favor 21% 27 28 23
Oppose 24% 23 23 24
36
Nov. 18-Dec. 1, 2003 Feb. 11-16, 2004 Mar. 17-21, 2004 Jul. 2004 Aug. 2004 Dec. 2004 Jul. 2005 Mar. 2006 Jun. 2006 Jul. 2006 Dec. 2006Jan. 2007 Aug. 2007 Nov. 2007 May 2008 Jun. 2008 Aug. 2008 Apr. 2009 Aug. 2009* Jul.-Aug. 2010* Aug.-Sep. 2010* Feb.-Mar. 2011* Apr. 2012 Jun. 2012 Oct. 2012
Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew
10 9 10 10 8 14 13 10 13 12 13 13 12 15 15 13 14 14 17 16 20 22 23 22
20 21 22 22 21 18 23 29 20 23 24 23 24 23 25 26 21 25 24 27 25 25 25 27
21 21 24 23 25 23 22 23 32 31 22 24 25 20 21 22 23 22 24 22 21 21 20 21
42 42 35 33 35 38 31 28 23 25 33 31 29 29 31 30 31 31 24 26 25 22 24 19
Note: *Question wording read allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally. Do you support or oppose gay marriage? Support 51% Oppose 47%
Nov. 2012
ABC/Wash Post
Do you think gays and lesbians have a constitutional right to get married and have their marriage recognized by law as valid? Have right Does not have right May 14-17, 2009 CNN/OD 45% 54% Aug. 6-10, 2010 CNN/OD 49 51 Which of these statements comes closer to your view (1) supporters of gay marriage should not push too hard to make it legal right away, because doing so could create bad feelings against homosexuals or (2) supporters of gay marriage should push hard to make it legal as soon as possible, despite the risk of creating bad feelings against homosexuals? Statement 1 41% 42 Statement 2 51% 45 Dont know/Refused 8% 13
Jul. 2006 Oct. 2009
Pew Pew
Would you favor or oppose legislation in your state that would prohibit marriages between gay or lesbian couples? Is that strongly or somewhat? Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Strongly favor favor Neutral oppose oppose May 4-9, 2005 Boston Globe/UNH 39% 7% 7% 10% 36%
37
Would you support or oppose a law in your state that would ban same-sex marriage? Support 45% Oppose 49% Unsure 6%
Jul. 2008
Quinnipiac
Note: Asked of registered voters. Would you favor or oppose a law in your state that would allow two men to marry each other or two women to marry each other? Favor 30% Oppose 61%
May 3-16, 2004
NAES
(Asked only of respondents who said opposed to previous question) Would you favor or oppose a law in your state allowing gay and lesbian couples to form civil unions that are not marriages but would give gay couples rights such as inheritance, insurance, and pension coverage? Favor 34% Oppose 62%
May 3-16, 2004
NAES
Note: Asked only of respondents who said opposed in the prior question. Should couples of the same sex be entitled to the same government benefits as married couples of the opposite sex, or should the government distinguish between them? Yes, should be entitled to the same benefits 51% 54 58 57 63 No, should distinguish between them 43% 42 38 40 32 Dont know 4% 4 3 2 4
Aug. 2008 Sep. 2009 Aug. 2010 Aug. 2011 Aug. 2012
AP-GfK/Roper AP-GfK/Roper AP-GfK/Roper AP-GfK/Roper AP-GfK/Roper
Should the government give legal recognition to marriages between couples of the opposite sex? Should 46% 52 53 53 Should not 53% 46 44 42 Unsure 1% 2 2 4
Sep. 2009* Aug. 2010^ Aug. 2011^ Aug. 2012
AP-GfK/Roper AP-GfK/Roper AP-GfK/Roper AP-GfK/Roper
Note: * The 2009 asking was worded Should the federal government give legal recognition to marriages between couples of the same sex? ^ The 2010 and 2011 askings were worded Should the federal government give legal recognition to marriages between couples of the same sex, or not? Do you think marriages between homosexuals/same sex couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages? Should be valid 35% 42 38 39 42 46 40 Should not be recognized 62% 55 59 58 56 53 56
Feb. 8-9, 1999 May 2-4, 2004 Aug. 22-25, 2005 May 8-11, 2006^ May 8-11, 2006^ May 10-13, 2007 May 8-11, 2008^
38
May 7-10, 2009
Gallup
40
57
Note: ^ Asked of two different half samples. The following questions used the exact same wording as the Gallup question above, but they were not preceded by questions on homosexual rights and relations. Should be valid 27% 34 39 35 31 36 32 33 32 28 39 40 Should not be recognized 68% 62 55 61 65 59 64 61 62 68 56 57
Mar. 15-17, 1996 Jan 13-16, 2000 Jun. 27-29, 2003 Oct. 24-26, 2003 Dec. 15-16, 2003 Feb. 6-8, 2004 Feb. 16-17, 2004 Mar. 5-7, 2004 July 19-21, 2004 Mar 18-20, 2005 Apr. 29-May 1, 2005 Aug. 6-8, 2007
Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup CNN/ORC
Thinking about what might be done to protect the rights of gays and lesbians, do you think that there should or should not be legally sanctioned gay marriages?
Feb. 21-24, 1991* Aug. 27, 1992 Feb. 3-4, 1994 May 22-23, 1996 Jun. 19-20, 1997 July 28-30, 1998 Mar. 9-10, 2000 Apr. 25-26, 2002 Feb. 5-6, 2004 Dec. 3-5, 2008
PSRA PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek
Should 30% 35 29 33 35 33 34 35 33 39
Should not 62% 58 62 58 56 61 57 57 58 55
Note: *In 1991, question wording was, Do you think that homosexual couples should be allowed to get legally married or not? Now I have a few questions about the situation for gay men and women in this country and the issue of gay rights .Do you think there should or should not be . . . ? PSRA/Newsweek Legally sanctioned gay and lesbian unions or partnerships Feb. 2000 Feb. 2004 Dec. 2008 Should be 47% 40 55 Should not be 42% 51 36
39
Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married? Support 35% 34 31 31 31 34 Oppose 60% 61 63 63 65 63
Dec. 4-8, 2003 Jan. 28-31, 2004 Mar. 16-22, 2004 Jul. 18-22, 2004 Dec. 7-12, 2004 Nov. 13-19, 2006
Quinnipiac Quinnipiac Quinnipiac Quinnipiac Quinnipiac Quinnipiac
How do you feel about so-called same sex marriages, between two men or two women? Specifically, would you say you approve or disapprove or dont feel strongly about the issue? ------Marriage between two men-----Dont feel Approve Disapprove strongly 10% 64% 24% 15 57 24 26 51 18 ----Marriage between two women----Dont feel Approve Disapprove strongly 11% 63% 25% 16 55 26 27 50 19
1996 2000 Mar. 18-29, 2004
Harris Harris Harris
Note: In the 1996 and 2000 surveys, the words single sex were used rather than same sex. Would you favor or oppose a law that would allow homosexual couples to marry, giving them the same legal rights as other married couples? Favor 40% 34 30 Oppose 55% 61 62
Jul. 13-27, 2003 Dec. 10-13, 2003 Feb. 24-27, 2004
CBS/NYT CBS/NYT CBS
Do you think marriages between homosexual men or homosexual women should be recognized as legal by the law, or not? Yes 23% 27 27 31 26 29 33 32 30 No 69% 67 65 64 65 64 60 62 62
Oct. 23-25, 1989 Aug. 19-20, 1992 Jan. 22-25, 1993 Jun. 15-16, 1994 Sep. 1996 Oct. 14-15, 1998 Jul. 16-17, 2003 Nov. 18-19, 2003 Feb. 5-6, 2004
Yankelovich/CNN/Time Yankelovich/CNN/Time Yankelovich/CNN/Time Yankelovich/CNN/Time Yankelovich/CNN/Time Yankelovich/CNN/Time Harris/CNN/Time Harris/CNN/Time Harris/CNN/Time
Thinking more generally, Im going to read you some statements, some of which you will probably agree w ith, others you will probably disagree with. The first isallowing gay and lesbian couples to legally marry would undermine the traditional American family, do you completely agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or completely disagree with this statement? Completely agree 37% 40 Somewhat agree 17% 16 Somewhat disagree 16% 15 Completely disagree 26% 24
Feb. 7-Sep. 4, 2000* PSRA/Kaiser Oct. 15-19, 2003 Pew
40
Note: *Question wording was Now Im going to read you a series of statements that describe dif ferent views about gays, lesbians and human sexuality. Some statements will probably come very close to describing your own opinions, while others will not come close at all. As I read each statement, please tell me if you completely agree with it, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or completely disagree with it. Recently there has been a lot of talk about allowing gays and lesbians to marry a partner of the same sex. Do you favor or oppose same-sex marriage? Favor 22% 26 Oppose 65% 62
Jun. 26-27, 1996 Aug. 12-13, 2003
Fox News/Opinion Dynamics Fox News/Opinion Dynamics
Note: Asked of registered voters. Laws relating to marriage have traditionally been handled by individual states, not the federal government. But some believe Washington should set uniform national laws about whether marriages between individuals of the same gender should be recognized. Would you prefer Congress? May 17-20, 2012 United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll 24% 27 42
Pass a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in every state regardless of state law Pass a constitutional amendment to permit same-sex marriage in every state regardless of state law Take no action and let each state decide whether to permit or ban same-sex marriage Demographic Breakdowns Ban SSM 26% 21 37 17 22 30 17 Permit SSM 25% 34 13 41 28 22 30
White Nonwhite Republican Democrat Independent Noncollege white College white
Let states decide 45% 39 47 38 44 43 50
Do you think it should be legal or not legal for same-sex couples to marry? Legal 46% 51 51 54 63 Not legal 44% 41 41 39 33
Jul. 2012 Sep. 2012 Nov. 2012 Feb. 2013 Feb. 2013
CBS/NYT CBS/NYT CBS CBS CBS/NYT
Demographic breakdowns Sep. 2012 Democrats Independents Republicans 64% 53 24 30% 38 68
41
As I read a list of some stories covered by news organizations this past week, please tell me if you happened to follow each news story very closely, fairly closely, not too closely, or not at all closely... Did you follow President Barack Obama expressing his support for gay marriage very closely, fairly closely, not too closely, or not at all closely? Very 37% Fairly 23% Not too 18% Not at all 21%
May 2012
Pew
Did President Barack Obama expressing his support for gay marriage make you think more favorably of him, less favorably of him, or did it not affect your opinion of Barack Obama? More favorably 19% Less favorably 25% Did not affect opinion 52%
May 2012
Pew
Does President Obamas support for same-sex marriage make you more likely to vote for him, less likely to vote for him, or doesnt it make any difference? More likely 13% No difference 60% Less likely 26%
May 2012
Gallup
Demographic breakdowns Democrat Independent Republican
24% 11 2
65% 63 46
10% 23 52
Next, as you may know, on Wednesday President Obama said for the first time he thinks same-sex couples should be able to legally marry. Do you approve or disapprove of his position on the issue? Approve 51% Disapprove 45%
May 10, 2012
Gallup
Demographic breakdowns Democrats Independents Republicans
71% 53 23
25% 44 74
Do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally? Strongly favor 22% 22 25 23 23 22 22 Strongly oppose 25% 22 26 23 24 19 22
Mar. 2012* Apr. 2012^ Jun. 2012* Jun. 2012 Jul. 2012 Oct. 2012 Mar. 2013
PRRI/RNS Pew PRRI Pew Pew Pew Pew
Favor 30% 25 24 25 25 27 27
Oppose 19% 21 18 21 20 21 21
Note: *Question wording read I'd like to get your views on some issues that are being discussed in the country today. All in all, do you . . . ? ^Asked of a half sample. Would you favor, oppose, or neither favor nor oppose a law allowing same-sex couples to be legally married in your state? Neither favor Already legal Favor Oppose nor oppose in my state Aug. 2011 AP-GfK/Roper 42% 45% 10% 1% Jun. 2012 AP-GfK/Roper 40 42 15 1
42
Do you favor or oppose allowing gay or lesbian couples to enter into same-sex marriages? Would you say that you strongly favor/oppose or just somewhat favor/oppose? Strongly favor 32% Somewhat favor 17% Somewhat oppose 9% Strongly oppose 31%
Feb.-Mar. 2012
NBC/WSJ
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling same sex marriage? Approve 37% Disapprove 42%
Jul. 2011
Quinnipiac
Should state governments give legal recognition to marriages between couples of the same sex? Yes 46% No 52%
Sep. 2009
AP-GfK/Roper
All in all, do you favor or oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally? Favor 41% 39 Oppose 46% 50
Mid Oct. 2008 Late Oct. 2008
Pew Pew
For each of the following please say whether you think ____ should strictly be a private decision between two people who want to marry or if the government has a right to pass laws to prohibit or allow such marriages. How about a marriage involving . . . ? May 30-Jun. 1, 2008 Gallup/USA Today 97% 95 63 30 18 2% 4 33 66 78
Two people of different religions Two people of different races Two people of the same sex One or both people practicing polygamy, that is having more than one spouse at the same time One or both people under the age of 16
Should gay and lesbian couples be allowed to marry, giving them full legal rights of married couples, or not? Should be allowed 42% 47 Should not 51% 47
Jun. 2008 Jul. 2008
Time/ABT/SRBI Time/ABT/SRBI
On another topic, for each of the following issues, please indicate how you feel. Same sex marriage? Support 31% Neither 19% Oppose 46%
Aug. 2007
Harris Interactive
Would you favor or oppose a law that would ban gay marriage, requiring that marriage should be between a man and a woman? Favor ban 51% Oppose ban 45%
Jan. 16-18, 2007
AP/AOL/Ipsos
43
Do you favor or oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally? Favor 33% Oppose 55%
Apr. 4-5, 2006
Overall, do you approve or disapprove of gay and lesbian couples being allowed to get married? Is that strongly or just somewhat? Strongly approve 25% Somewhat approve 12% Somewhat disapprove 8% Strongly disapprove 42%
May 4-9, 2005
Boston Globe/UNH
Neutral 11%
There has been some debate about which of branch of government should decide if gay marriages are legal. Some people argue that courts should decide whether gay marriage should be legal and other people argue that these decisions should be made by legislatures. Which best represents your view? Should courts make decisions about legalizing gay marriage or should these decisions be left to legislatures? May 4-9, 2005 Boston Globe/UNH All Democrats Republicans Independents Courts 29% 40 21 20 Legislature 52% 39 68 56 Either 6% 7 4 6 Depends on state 2% 4 1 2
Do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally? Strongly favor 14% Favor 21% Oppose 25% Strongly oppose 36%
Nov. 19-21, 2004
AP/Ipsos
Do you approve or disapprove of changing the definition of the word marriage to also include same-sex couples? Approve 25% Disapprove 66%
Mar. 3-4, 2004
Would you favor or oppose a law that would allow homosexual couples to legally get married, or do you not have an opinion either way? Favor 24% Oppose 53%
Jan. 9-11, 2004
Gallup
Note: Further breakdown reveals 16 percent of respondents favor strongly, 8 percent favor moderately, 9 percent oppose moderately, and 44 percent oppose strongly. Would you favor or oppose a law in your state that would allow gays and lesbians to marry a partner of the same sex? Strongly favor 17% Somewhat favor 17% Somewhat oppose 11% Strongly oppose 49%
Oct. 7-Nov. 24, 2003
NAES
44
Today/yesterday, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in favor of gay marriage in that state. Do you favor or oppose same-sex marriage? Nov. 18-19, 2003 Fox News/Opinion Dynamics Favor 25% Oppose 66%
Note: Asked of registered voters. Do you support or oppose allowing same-sex couples to marry, or havent you heard enough about it yet to say? Havent heard enough 14%
Nov. 15-18, 2003
LAT
Support 31%
Oppose 55%
Thinking more generally, Im going to read you some statements, some of which you will probab ly agree with, others you will probably disagree with. The first isgay marriage would go against my religious beliefs, do you completely agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or completely disagree with this statement? Completely agree 50% Somewhat agree 12% Somewhat disagree 10% Completely disagree 23%
Oct. 15-19, 2003
Pew
Just your best guess, do you think that allowing two people of the same sex to legally marry will change our society for the better, will it have no effect, or will it change our society for the worse? Better 10% 13 No effect 40% 36 Worse 48% 48
Sep. 19-21, 2003 May 7-9, 2009
Gallup/CNN/USA Today Gallup/USA Today
Would you favor or oppose a law that would ban gay marriage, requiring that marriage should be between a man and a woman? Favor law to ban 52% Oppose law to ban 41%
Aug. 8-12, 2003
AP
Now I am going to read you a list of things that some people do. For each, thinking your own values and morals, Id like you to tell me whether you think it is generally acceptable or generally unacceptable: Marriages between people of the same sex? Generally Generally not acceptable acceptable Mar. 8-Apr. 22, 2001 Wash Post/Kaiser/Harvard 34% 64% Thinking now about gay marriage, that is, allowing a couple who are gay or lesbian to marry one another legally, do you support or oppose gay marriage? Support 34% Oppose 58%
Jun. 8-13, 2000
LAT
In general, do you think gays and lesbians should or should not be allowed to be legally married? Should 34% Should not 51%
May 17-21, 2000
AP
45
Do you think marriage between two people of the same sex should be legal, or do you think marriage should be limited only to the union of a man and woman? Only man and woman 62%
Mar. 13-16, 2000
NYT
Legal 28%
Im going to mention several issues, and Id like to get your reaction. For each item I read, please tell me whether this is something you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly opposeAll owing homosexual couples to be legally married? Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Strongly favor favor oppose oppose Jun. 16-19, 1999 NBC/WSJ 13% 15% 14% 50% Do you feel same-sex couples should have the right to be legally married? Yes 29% No 67%
Dec. 6-8, 1996
Wirthlin Worldwide
Would you, personally, support or oppose giving homosexuals a legal right to marry a partner of the same sex? Support 31% Oppose 59%
Jun. 14-16, 1996
AP
Next, Im going to read you some statements about the issue of gay marriages. For each statement please tell me if you agree or disagree gay marriage would go against my religious beliefs? Agree 67% Disagree 29%
May 22-23, 1996
PSRA/Newsweek
Do you think homosexuals should or should not have equal rights to marry one another? Should 39% Should not 56%
Jun. 23-26, 1994
ABC/Wash Post
MARRIAGE OR CIVIL UNIONS OR NEITHER: In January 2000, Fox News and Opinion Dynamics first asked whether gay couples should be allowed to legally marry, be given legal partnerships similar to but not called marriage, or whether there should be no legal recognition of gay and lesbian relationships. Other pollsters now ask similar questions. In most of these questions, around four in ten now say they support gay marriage. Only about three in ten say there should be no legal recognition for gay and lesbian partnerships.
Which comes closest to your view: Gay couples should be allowed to legally marry or gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not legally marry or there should be no legal recognition of a gay couple relationship? Legally marry 22% 28 28 21 21 Civil unions 33% 29 31 38 32 No recognition 40% 40 38 34 44
Mar. 2004 May 2004 Jul. 2004 Oct. 2004 Nov. 2004
CBS/NYT CBS CBS/NYT CBS/NYT CBS/NYT
46
Feb. 2005 Jul. 2005 Jun. 2006 Oct. 2006 Mar. 2007 May 2008 Aug. 2008 Mar. 2009 Apr. 2009 Jun.2009 Apr. 2010 Aug. 2010 Dec. 2010 Mar. 2011 Jun. 2011 Sep. 2011 Feb. 2012 May 2012 Demographic breakdowns May 2012
CBS/NYT CBS CBS/NYT CBS/NYT CBS/NYT CBS CBS/NYT CBS/NYT CBS/NYT CBS/NYT CBS/NYT CBS CBS CBS CBS CBS/NYT CBS/NYT CBS/NYT
23 27 27 28 28 30 34 33 42 33 39 40 37 40 40 38 40 38
34 27 30 29 32 28 22 27 25 30 24 30 23 25 23 27 23 24
36 43 40 38 35 36 39 35 28 32 30 25 32 30 30 28 31 33
Republicans Democrats Independents Ages 18-44 Ages 45+
9% 58 40 53% 24
37% 17 26 17% 31
49% 19 30 30% 36
If you had to decide, do you think it should be legal or not legal for same sex couples to marry? Legal 42% Not legal 51%
May 2012 Demographic breakdowns May 2012
CBS/NYT
Republicans Democrats Independents Ages 18-44 45+
13% 63 45 55% 31
81% 25 50 44% 56
Do you believe gays and lesbians should be allowed to get legally married, allowed a legal partnership similar to but not called marriage, or should there be no legal recognition to gay and lesbian relationships? Allowed to get legally married 19% 20 25 27 33 37 37 Allowed legal partnership 24% 33 26 25 33 29 33 No legal recognition 47% 40 40 39 29 28 25
Jan. 2000 Mar. 2004 May 2004 Jun. 2006 May2009 Aug. 2010 May 2012
Fox/Opinion Dynamics Fox/Opinion Dynamics Fox/Opinion Dynamics Fox/Opinion Dynamics Fox/Opinion Dynamics Fox/Opinion Dynamics Fox
47
Do you think same-sex couples should be allowed legally to marry, should be allowed legally to form civil unions but not marry, or should not be allowed to obtain legal recognition of their relationships? Marry 32% 33 40 37 40 40 38 40 38 Civil unions 33% 26 30 23 25 23 27 23 24 No recognition 29% 34 25 32 30 30 28 31 33
Jul. 8-13, 2008 Apr. 21-27, 2009 Aug. 20-24, 2010 Dec. 17-20, 2010 Mar. 18-21, 2011 Jun. 17-20, 2011 Sep. 10-15, 2011 Feb. 8-13, 2012 May 11-13, 2012
Quinnipiac Quinnipiac CBS CBS CBS CBS CBS/NYT CBS/NYT CBS/NYT
There has been much talk recently about whether gays and lesbians should have the legal right to marry someone of the same sex. Which one of the following comes closest to your position on this issue? Do you support full marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples, support gay civil unions or partnerships but not gay marriage or oppose any legal recognition for gay and lesbian couples? Full marriage rights 23% 28 24 26 30 31 Civil unions 24% 23 26 24 27 32 No legal recognition 45% 43 40 44 37 30
Feb. 19-20, 2004 May 13-14, 2004 Oct. 26-27, 2006 Mar. 14-15, 2007 Jun. 18-19, 2008 Dec. 3-4, 2008
PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek
Which of the following statements comes closest to your view? Same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry, or Same-sex couples should be allowed to legally form civil unions, but not mar ry, or Same-sex couples should not be allowed to either marry or form civil unions. Legally marry 26% 26 30 Civil unions 35% 38 26
June 5-8, 2004 July 17-21, 2004 Oct. 19-22, 2007
LAT LAT LAT/Bloomberg
Neither 35% 31 38
Which of the following arrangements between gay or lesbian couples do you think should be recognized as legally valid same-sex marriages, civil unions but not same-sex marriages, or neither same-sex marriages nor civil unions? Same-sex marriages 21% 20 24 Civil unions 32% 27 26
Nov. 19-21, 2004 Mar. 18-20, 2005* Oct. 27-29, 2006
Gallup/CNN/USA Today Gallup/CNN/USA Today CNN/ORC
Neither 43% 45 45
Note: * Asked of half-sample.
48
Would you support or oppose a law in your state that would allow same-sex couples to get married? Support 46% Oppose 48%
Jul. 14, 2011 Note: Asked of registered voters.
Quinnipiac
If a states government does not legally recognize marriages between gays or lesbians, do you think that state should or should not allow gay and lesbian couples to form civil unions which would give them some of the legal rights of married couples? Should 60% Should not 38% Unsure 2%
Apr. 2009
CNN/ORC
Would you support or oppose a law in your state that would allow civil unions for same-sex couples? Support a law in your state allowing civil unions 57%
Apr. 21-27, 2009
Quinnipiac
Oppose 38%
Do you think the issue of whether gays and lesbians can legally marry should be decided at the state or federal level? State 48% Federal 38%
Jun. 13-14, 2006
Which do you think comes closest to the views of most people in the United States? Gay couples should be allowed to legally marry, or gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not legally marry, or there should be no legal recognition of a gay couples relationship? Legally marry 6% Civil unions 39% Nothing 49%
Nov. 18-21, 2004
CBS/NYT
Which comes closest to your view of gay and lesbian couples? --------------------Voters------------------------Legally Civil No legal marry unions recognition 25% 35% 37%
Nov. 2, 2004
NEP
Note: The exit poll consortium, NEP, consisted of the five major networks and the Associated Press. Which of the following statements comes closest to your view? Same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry, or Same-sex couples should be allowed to legally form civil unions, but not marry, or Same -sex couples should not be allowed to either marry or form civil unions. Legally form civil unions 38%
Mar. 27-30, 2004
LAT
Legally marry 24%
Neither 34%
Do you think that same sex-couples should be allowed to marry, allowed to have civil unions with all the same rights of a married couple but not call it marriage or neither of these two? Allowed to marry 27% Civil unions 31% Neither 35%
Mar. 18-29, 2004
Harris
49
CIVIL UNIONS/LEGAL PARTNERSHIPS/BENEFITS: Support for legal gay and lesbian partnerships is stronger when people are asked about civil unions and specifically about providing homosexual couples health insurance coverage and inheritance rights, compared to questions concerning support of gay marriage. Sixty-two percent thought gay or lesbian couples should be allowed to form legal partnerships giving them many of the same rights as married couples, according to a July 2011 PRRI survey.
Under current federal law spouses in same-sex marriages are denied eligibility for federal benefits. Do you think this law should remain in existence or not? Yes 39% 35 No 54% 59
Apr. 21-27, 2009 Jul. 5-11, 2011
Do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose allowing gay and lesbian couples to enter into legal agreements with each other that would give them many of the same rights as married couples? Strongly favor 14% 16 18 15 22 19 21 18 20 22 26 Favor 31% 33 31 33 31 35 30 36 33 35 36 Oppose 20% 18 18 21 16 18 16 19 18 17 17 Strongly oppose 27% 26 25 24 24 24 25 21 21 21 18
Oct. 15-19, 2003 Mar. 17-21, 2004 Jul. 2004 Aug. 2004 Jul. 2005 Jul. 2006 May 2008 Aug. 2008 Apr. 2009 Aug. 2009 Jul. 2011
Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew PRRI
Do you think homosexual couples should or should not be allowed to form legally recognized civil unions, giving them the legal rights of married couples in areas such as health insurance, inheritance and pension coverage? Should 40% 46 45 51 45 55 66 Should not 51% 51 48 46 48 42 31
Sep. 3-7, 2003 Jan. 15-18, 2004 Feb. 18-22, 2004 Mar. 2004 Jun. 2006 Nov. 2007 Feb. 2010 Demographic breakdowns, Age Jan. 2004 18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 65+
ABC ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post
54% 58 50 35 30
45% 38 48 58 65
50
Mar. 2004 18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 65+ Nov. 2007 18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 65+ Feb. 2010 18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 65+ Demographic breakdowns, Education Jan. 2004 LT HS Grad HS Grad Some College College Plus Mar. 2004 LT HS Grad HS Grad Some College College Plus Nov. 2007 LT HS Grad HS Grad Some College College Plus Feb. 2010 LT HS Grad HS Grad Some College College Plus -62% 64 78 -36% 33 20 -53% 53 67 -45% 44 30 -44% 53 65 -54% 44 34 -39% 47 56 -57% 49 41 77 65 72 63 52 23 33 26 32 43 66% 56 53 52 44 33% 41 43 46 49 68% 56 55 47 30 30% 42 45 49 64
51
Demographic breakdowns, Gender Jan. 2004 Male Female Mar. 2004 Male Female Nov. 2007 Male Female Feb. 2010 Male Female Demographic breakdowns, Ideology Jan. 2004 Liberal Moderate Conservative Mar. 2004 Liberal Moderate Conservative Nov. 2007 Liberal Moderate Conservative Feb. 2010 Liberal Moderate Conservative 82% 75 50 17% 23 45 69% 64 35 25% 34 63 65% 56 32 33% 40 65 73% 47 24 23% 49 73 59% 73 39% 24 51% 59 46% 38 50% 52 47% 45 40% 51 57% 45
52
Demographic breakdowns, Income Jan. 2004 < $20k $20k 34,999 $35k 49,999 $50k 74,999 > $75k Mar. 2004 < $20k $20k 34,999 $35k 49,999 $50k 74,999 > $75k Nov. 2007 < $20k $20k 34,999 $35k 49,999 $50k 74,999 > $75k Feb. 2010 < $20k $20k 34,999 $35k 49,999 $50k 74,999 > $75k Demographic breakdowns, Party ID Jan. 2004 Democrat Republican Independent Mar. 2004 Democrat Republican Independent Nov. 2007 Democrat Republican Independent 66% 39 58 31% 58 39 55% 36 61 41% 59 37 55% 27 49 39% 69 49 65% 63 72 61 72 32% 32 28 37 26 40% 45 49 60 68 56% 50 48 40 30 47% 44 49 54 63 47% 55 50 43 34 42% 38 49 45 51 51% 59 48 53 45
53
Feb. 2010 Democrat Republican Independent Demographic breakdowns, Race/Ethnicity Jan. 2004 White Black Nov. 2007 White Black Demographic breakdowns, Region Jan. 2004 Northeast Midwest South West Mar. 2004 Northeast Midwest South West Nov. 2007 Northeast Midwest South West Feb. 2010 Northeast Midwest South West 75% 66 59 72 22% 33 39 24 69% 51 46 63 28% 45 52 35 63% 45 45 59 34% 51 54 37 58% 44 36 56 37% 54 61 41 56% 45 42% 51 44% 46 53% 48 72% 51 71 24% 46 27
54
Thinking again about what might be done to protect gay rights, do you think there should or should not be? Inheritance rights for gay spouses Inheritance rights for gay and lesbian domestic partners^ Aug. 27, 1992 Feb. 3-4, 1994 May 22-23, 1996 Jun. 19-20, 1997 Jul. 30-31, 1998 Mar. 9-10, 2000 Feb. 5-6, 2004 Dec. 3-4, 2008^ PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek Should 70% 61 61 62 59 62 60 74 Should not 25% 30 29 30 33 28 30 20
Social Security benefits for gay spouses Social Security benefits for gay and lesbian domestic partners^ Aug. 27, 1992 Feb. 3-4, 1994 May 22-23, 1996 Jun. 19-20, 1997 Jul. 30-31, 1998 Mar. 9-10, 2000 Feb. 5-6, 2004 Dec. 3-4, 2008^ PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek 58% 55 48 57 52 54 55 67 35% 39 43 37 41 38 36 27
Health insurance and other employee benefits for gay spouses Health insurance and other employee benefits for gay and lesbian domestic partners^ Jun. 19-20, 1997 Jul. 30-31, 1998 Mar. 9-10, 2000 Feb. 5-6, 2004 Dec. 3-4, 2008^ PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek 59% 58 58 60 73 36% 37 34 33 23
Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to form civil unions, giving them many of the legal rights of married couples? Support 40% 40 40 40 45 45 Oppose 53% 53 53 55 51 52
Dec. 4-8, 2003 Jan. 28-31, 2004 Mar. 16-22, 2004 Jul. 18-22, 2004 Dec. 7-12, 2004 Nov. 13-19, 2006
Quinnipiac Quinnipiac Quinnipiac Quinnipiac Quinnipiac Quinnipiac
Do you think homosexual couples should or should not be allowed to form legally recognized civil unions, giving them the legal rights of married couples in areas such as health insurance, inheritance and pension coverage? Should 40% 46 45 45 Should not 51% 51 48 48
Sep. 3-7, 2003 Jan. 15-18, 2004 Feb. 18-22, 2004 May 31- Jun. 4, 2006
ABC ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC
55
Would you favor or oppose a law that would allow homosexual couples to legally form civil unions, giving them some of the legal rights of married couples? Favor 42% 44 41 46 49 40 37 54 49 Oppose 54% 52 53 51 49 57 58 42 48
Oct. 25-28, 2000 May 10-14, 2001 Feb. 8-10, 2002 May 6-9, 2002 May 5-7, 2003 Jul. 25-27, 2003 Aug. 7-11, 2003 Mar. 5-7, 2004 May 2-4, 2004
Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Wash Post Gallup Gallup
Would you favor or oppose a law that would allow homosexual couples to legally form civil unions, giving them some of the legal rights of married couples? Favor 54% 56 Oppose 42% 40
Mar. 5-7, 2004 May 2-4, 2004
Gallup Gallup
What about civil unions between gay or lesbian couples that would give them some, but not all, of the legal rights of married couplesshould same sex couples be allowed to form civil unions but not legally marry in your state? Is that strongly favor or just somewhat? Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Strongly favor favor Neutral oppose oppose May 4-9, 2005 Boston Globe/UNH 28% 18% 7% 8% 33% Would you favor oppose allowing gay and lesbian couples who are willing to make a life-long commitment through a legal contract to receive the same rights and benefits that heterosexual couples receive? Favor 43% 46 Oppose 44% 47
Dec. 12-13, 2003 Mar. 6-8, 2004
NBC/WSJ NBC/WSJ
Would you favor or oppose a law that would allow homosexual couples to legally form civil unions, giving them some of the legal rights of married couples, or do you not have an opinion either way? Favor 34% Oppose 41% No opinion 25%
Jan. 9-11, 2004
Gallup
Note: Further breakdown reveals 20 percent of the respondents favor strongly, 14 percent favor moderately, 6 percent oppose moderately, and 35 percent oppose strongly. (If opposed to same-sex marriage = 60 percent of the sample) Would you favor or oppose a law in your state allowing gay and lesbian couples to form civil unions that are not marriages but would give gay couples rights such as inheritance, insurance and pension coverage? Is that strongly favor/oppose or somewhat favor/oppose? Strongly favor 10% Somewhat favor 26% Somewhat oppose 13% Strongly oppose 45%
Oct. 7-Nov. 24, 2003
NAES
56
Do you support or oppose allowing homosexual couples to form civil unions that are not marriages, but would give gay couples rights such as inheritance, insurance and hospital visiting privileges? Support 46% 41 Oppose 44% 48
Sep. 23-24, 2003 Nov. 18-19, 2003
Fox News/Opinion Dynamics Fox News/Opinion Dynamics
Note: Asked of registered voters. Would you support or oppose allowing same-sex couples to form civil unions that are not marriages, but would give similar legal protection in areas such as inheritance and hospital visits, or havent you heard enough it yet to say? Support 36% Oppose 40% Havent heard 24%
Nov. 15-18, 2003
LAT
Do you think gay or lesbian couples should or should not be allowed all the same legal rights as married couples in every state, or doesnt it matter to you? Should 32% Doesnt matter 32% Should not 35%
Sep. 19-21, 2003
Gallup/CNN/USA Today
Would you favor or oppose allowing gays and lesbians to form a civil union that would give a same-sex couple the same rights and benefits as a married couple? Favor 41% Oppose 53%
Aug. 8-12, 2003
AP
Do you favor or oppose allowing gay and lesbian couples to enter into legal agreements with each other that are not marriages, but that would give them many of the same legal and financial relationships as married couples? (Asked of half sample) Favor 53% Oppose 34%
Jul. 26-27, 2003
NBC/WSJ
Do you think homosexual couples should or should not have the same legal rights as married heterosexual couples regarding health care benefits and Social Security survivor benefits? Should 62% Should not 35%
May 5-7, 2003
Gallup
What about allowing gay and lesbian couples the same type of rights and benefits that married couples currently enjoy, such as inheritance rights, health care benefits, or a tax break. Do you support or oppose rights and benefits for gay and lesbian couples? Support 50% Oppose 40%
Jun. 8-13, 2000
LAT
In general, do you think that gays and lesbians should or should not be allowed to form a domestic partnership that would give the same-sex couple the same rights and benefits as opposite-sex marriages? Should 42% Should not 47%
May 17-21, 2000
AP
57
I would like to read you a proposal in the area of legal recognition of gay and lesbian relationships. For each one, tell me whether you would favor or oppose this proposal...? Favor Providing health insurance coverage to gay partners May 17-21, 2000 AP Providing Social Security benefits to gay partners May 17-21, 2000 AP 53% Oppose 37%
50%
41%
Providing inheritance rights to gay partners May 17-21, 2000 AP
56%
32%
Do you think gay partners who make a legal commitment to each other should or should not be entitled to the same rights and benefits as couples in traditional marriages? Should be entitled to same rights 40% Should not be entitled to same rights 53%
Jan 13-16, 2000
Gallup
Do you support or oppose allowing homosexual couples to have the same benefits as married heterosexual couples, such as health benefits, inheritance rights and Social Security survivor benefits? Support 37% Oppose 59%
Aug. 1-5, 1996
ABC/Wash Post
Now I would like to read you several more statements about some of the social issues facing America. For each issue, please tell me whether you agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly with this statementHomosexual couples should be able to enjoy the full rights granted to married heterosexual couples? Strongly favor 15% Somewhat favor 23% Somewhat oppose 14% Strongly oppose 43%
Jun. 4-8, 1993
NBC/WSJ
What about a homosexual couple? Do you think a homosexual couple who live together in a long-term relationship should be able to get the same job benefits as a married couple, or not? Yes 39% No 56%
Feb. 21-24, 1991
PSRA
Should homosexual couples have the same legal rights as married couples? Should 23% Should not 69%
Oct. 1-4, 1989
Gallup
58
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT?: Pollsters have been experimenting with different question wordings to see how much support there is for a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. In September 2003, January and February 2004 polling by ABC News and the Washington Post, 55 percent said it should be illegal for homosexual couples to marry. The 55 percent in the September poll who thought it should be illegal were then asked whether they supported a constitutional amendment to make it illegal. Thirty-six percent did, and 60 percent did not. In another ABC/Washington Post question from January 2004, 38 percent favored a constitutional amendment, but 58 percent said the matter should be left up to individual states. The most recent polling on a constitutional amendment to define marriage paints a mixed picture. A May 2012 CBS/New York Times survey indicated 50 percent supported such an amendment. But a Fox poll from the same month showed only 38 percent support for a constitutional amendment.
Would you favor or oppose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would allow marriage only between a man and a woman? Favor 59% 50 Oppose 35% 46
Mar. 2004 May 2012 Demographic breakdown, Party ID Republican Democrat Independent
CBS/NYT CBS/NYT
70% 36 50
26% 59 47
Would you favor or oppose passing a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as being between a man and a woman? Favor 58% 52 38 Oppose 34% 40 53 (p)
Aug. 2003 Mar. 2004 May 2012
Fox Fox Fox
Note: Asked of registered voters. Do you think it should be legal or illegal for gay and lesbian/homosexual couples to get married? Legal 37% Illegal 55%
Sep. 3-7, 2003
ABC
(If Illegal) Is it worth amending the U.S. Constitution to make it illegal for homosexual couples to get married, or not worth it? Sep. 3-7, 2003 ABC Yes 36% No 60%
Note: ABC has asked the first question many more time; however, the 2003 asking was the only one followed up with a constitutional amendment question.
59
Would you support or oppose amending the United States Constitution to ban same-sex marriage? Support 41% 39 43 43 38 Oppose 51% 55 53 53 56
Mar. 16-22, 2004 Jul. 18-22, 2004 Dec. 7-12, 2004 Nov. 13-19, 2006 Jul. 8-13, 2008
Quinnipiac Quinnipiac Quinnipiac Quinnipiac Quinnipiac
Would you favor or oppose a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as being between a man and a woman, thus barring marriages between gay or lesbian couples? Favor 50% 47 53 50 51 48 57 53 50 49 Oppose 45% 47 44 45 45 46 37 44 47 48
Jul. 18-20, 2003 Feb. 6-8, 2004^ Feb. 9-12, 2004 Mar. 5-7, 2004 May 2-4, 2004 July 19-21, 2004^ Mar 18-20, 2005 Apr. 29-May 1, 2005 May 8-11, 2006 May 8-11, 2008^
Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup
Note: ^ Asked of a half sample. There has been a proposal to change the U.S. Constitution to ban gay marriage. Do you think amending the Constitution to ban gay marriage is a good idea, or a bad idea? Good idea to amend constitution 36% 31 35 29 33 30 Bad idea to amend constitution 21% 22 22 22 19 24
Mar. 17-21, 2004 Jul. 2004 Aug. 2004 Jul. 2005 Jun. 2006 Jul. 2006
Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew
Note: Asked of those who said they opposed gay marriage. Would you favor or would you oppose an amendment to the United States Constitution that defines marriage as a union only between a man and a woman and makes same-sex marriages unconstitutional? Favor 48% 54 50 51 50 47 Oppose 44% 42 44 44 44 46
Dec. 12-13, 2003 Mar. 6-8, 2004 May 1-3, 2004 June 25-28, 2004 July 19-21, 2004 Oct. 16-18, 2004
NBC/WSJ NBC/WSJ NBC/WSJ NBC/WSJ NBC/WSJ NBC/WSJ
Note: Prior to May 2004, the question was phrased, Would you favor or would you oppose a constitutional amendment that defined marriage as a union only between a man and a woman and made same-sex marriage unconstitutional?
60
Would you favor or oppose a Constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage in all states? Favor 47% 43 Oppose 45% 52
Feb. 5-6, 2004 Dec. 3-4, 2008
Do you favor or oppose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would ban same-sex couples from getting married? Favor 36% 35 Oppose 58% 58
Jun. 2008 Jul. 2008
Time/ABT/SRBI Time/ABT/SRBI
Would you favor or oppose an amendment to the US Constitution that would define marriage as being between a man and a woman, this prohibiting marriages between gay or lesbian couples? Is that strongly or somewhat? Strongly favor 38% Somewhat favor 7% Somewhat oppose 11% Strongly oppose 36%
May 4-9, 2005
Boston Globe/UNH
Neutral 5%
Do you think defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman is an important enough issue to be worth changing the Constitution for, or isnt it that kind of issue? Important enough 38% 40 Not that kind of issue 56% 56
Mar. 10-14, 2004 Nov. 18-21, 2004
CBS/NYT CBS/NYT
Would you favor or oppose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution saying that no state can allow two men to marry each other or two women to marry each other? Favor 42% 40 42 Oppose 50% 49 49
May 3-16, 2004 Sep. 21-26, 2004 Oct. 14-20, 2004
NAES NAES NAES
Do you favor or oppose and amendment to the U.S. Constitution that legally defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman only, and would prevent states from legally recognizing same-sex marriages? Favor 51% 48 Oppose 42% 47
Mar. 27-30, 2004 July 17-21, 2004
LAT LAT
Why do you think the Constitution should not be amended to ban gay marriages? Mar. 17-21, 2004 Pew Stable document/Way founders wrote it/Leave it alone Government should stay out of it/Favor individual rights Let the states handle it/Other ways to address it Trivial/Not that important/Other priorities Gay marriage is not a constitutional issue It would open the door to other changes It wouldnt work/People will do what they want Unspecific reason Other reasons Reasons 18% 14 11 8 6 5 2 1 9
61
Note: Based on respondents who oppose gay marriage, but also believe a constitutional amendment is a bad idea. Now I am going to read you some pairs of statements. As I read each pair, please tell me whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own views, even if neither is exactly right. 1) I oppose amending the U.S. Constitution to bar gay marriages. 2) I favor amending the U.S. Constitution to bar gay marriages. Is that strong or weak? 1st statement strong Democracy Corps (Dem.) 49% 1st statement 2nd statement weak weak 7% 5% 2nd statement strong 32%
Mar. 16-21, 2004
As you may know, there is a legal proposal in Congress to amend the U.S. Constitution to make same sex marriages illegal. Supporters of this proposed amendment say that it is a serious attempt to address the issue of gay marriages. Opponents of this proposal say that it is being promoted for political, election year purposes. Whom do you agree with moresupporters of the amendment, or opponents of the amendment? Supporters 42% Opponents 50%
Mar. 6-8, 2004
NBC/WSJ
Would you favor or oppose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would allow marriages only between a man and a woman? Favor 59% Oppose 35%
Feb. 24-27, 2004 Note: Asked of a half sample.
CBS
Would you favor or oppose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would allow marriage only between a man and a woman, and outlaw marriages between people of the same sex? Favor 51% Oppose 42%
Feb. 24-27, 2004 Note: Asked of a half sample.
CBS
Would you favor/oppose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that no state can allow two men to marry each other or two women to marry each other? Favor 42% 41 Oppose 49% 48
Feb. 5-8, 2004 Feb. 14-23, 2004
NAES NAES
Would you support amending the U.S. Constitution to make it illegal for homosexual couples to get married anywhere in the U.S., or should each state make its own laws on homosexual marriage? Support amendment 38% 46 39 States make own laws 58% 45 56
Jan. 15-18, 2004 Feb. 18-22, 2004 Apr. 21-24, 2005
ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post
62
Would you support a Constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriages in all 50 states, or do you think it should be left up to the individual states to pass their own laws about gay marriage?
Feb. 19-20, 2004
PSRA/Newsweek
Amendment 39%
States 33%
Full rights 23%*
Note: *Answer given in a previous question that asked: There has been much talk recently about whether gays and lesbians should have the legal right to marry someone of the same sex. Which of the following comes closest to your position on this issue? Do you support full marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples? Do you favor or oppose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that legally defines marriage as a union between a man and woman only, and would prevent states from legally recognizing marriages between homosexual men or between homosexual woman? Favor 47% Oppose 46%
Feb. 5-6, 2004
Harris/CNN/Time
Id like to ask you some questions about priorities for President Bush and Congress this year. As I read from a list, tell me if you think the item that I read should be a top priority, important but lower priority, not too important or should it not be done? Passing a constitutional amendment that would prohibit gay marriages. Top priority 22% Important/ Lower priority 16% Not too important 22% Should not be done 37%
Jan. 6-11, 2004
Pew
Note: Passing a constitutional amendment ranked 21st of 22 issues Pew inquired about as a top priority. Do you favor or oppose the federal government adopting a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage? Is that strongly favor/oppose or somewhat favor/oppose? Strongly favor 30% 32 Somewhat favor 9% 8 Somewhat oppose 16% 15 Strongly oppose 35% 36
Oct. 7-Nov. 18, 2003 Nov. 19-24, 2003
NAES NAES
If the courts in your state ruled that your states government must legally recognize gay marriages, would you favor or oppose amending your states constitution to legally define marriage as a union between a man and a woman? Favor 53% Oppose 40%
Nov. 18-19, 2003 Harris Interactive
(Asked of the 59 percent of respondents who said they opposed allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally) Should the U.S. Constitution be amended to ban gay marriage, or is it enough to prohibit gay marriage by law without changing the Constitution? Amend the Constitution 10% Enough to prohibit by law 42%
Oct. 15-19, 2003
Pew
63
Congress is considering a constitutional amendment that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. Would you favor or oppose the amending of the Constitution to specify marriage should be between a man and a woman? Favor 54% Oppose 42%
Aug. 8-12, 2003
AP
FAMILIES: In 1999, about two in ten said that committed same-sex couples constitute a family. In the 2004 PSRA/Newsweek poll, 45 percent said there should be adoption rights for gay spouses, but 47 percent disagreed. In 1977, 14 percent told Gallup that homosexuals should be allowed to adopt children, and 77 percent said they should not. In 2012, in a PRRI/Religion News Service question, 54 percent said homosexual couples should have the legal right to adopt a child; 40 percent said they should not.
You hear a lot today about the changing American family. Id like to know your opinion on what a family is. For each of the following types of living arrangements, please tell me whether you would definitely call it a family, you definitely would not call it a family, or if you arent sure. A married couple living with their children: Family Roper GfK-NOP 98% Roper GfK-NOP 99 Roper GfK-NOP 98 Not family 1% 1 1 Arent sure 1% 1 1
Feb. 1992 Feb. 1996 Mar. 1999
A married couple living with their children from a previous marriage: Feb. 1992 Feb. 1996 Mar. 1999 Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP 93% 96 95 5% 3 3 2% 1 2
A man and a woman who are married, but dont have any children: Feb. 1992 Feb. 1996 Mar. 1999 Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP 87% 88 86 10% 11 11 3% 2 3
A divorced mother living with her children: Feb. 1992 Feb. 1996 Mar. 1999 Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP 84% 85 86 13% 14 12 2% 1 2
A divorced father living with his children: Feb. 1992 Feb. 1996 Mar. 1999 Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP 80% 79 83 17% 19 13 3% 2 4
64
An unwed (never married) mother living with her children: Feb. 1992 Feb. 1996 Mar. 1999 Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP 81% 83 82 14% 15 14 5% 2 4
An unwed (never married) father living with his children: Feb. 1992 Feb. 1996 Mar. 1999 Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP 73% 74 78 19% 22 16 7% 4 6
A man and a woman committed (but not married) to each other and living together, who are raising children: (question wording differed slightly in 1992) Feb. 1992 Feb. 1996 Mar. 1999 Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP 77% 72 75 17% 24 18 6% 3 6
A man and woman committed to each other and living together (but not married): (question wording differed slightly in 1992) Feb. 1992 Feb. 1996 Mar. 1999 Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP 53% 57 50 37% 39 40 11% 4 9
A group of unrelated adults who live together and consider themselves a family: Feb. 1992 Feb. 1996 Mar. 1999 Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP 28% 33 29 60% 63 59 12% 4 12
Two lesbian women living with children they are raising together: Fe.b 1992 Feb. 1996 Mar. 1999 Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP 27% 27 29 62% 68 59 11% 5 12
Two gay men living with children they are raising: Feb. 1992 Feb. 1996 Mar. 1999 Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP 26% 29 26 65% 66 61 9% 5 13
Two gay men committed to each other and living together: Feb. 1992 Feb. 1996 Mar. 1999 Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP 20% 21 21 71% 75 69 9% 4 10
65
Two lesbian women committed to each other and living together: Feb. 1992 Feb. 1996 Mar. 1999 Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP 21% 22 20 69% 72 66 10% 6 13
Adoption
All in all, do you strongly favor, oppose, or strongly oppose allowing gay and lesbian couples to adopt children? Strongly favor PRRI 19% PRRI 20 PRRI/Religion News Service 23 Strongly oppose 22% 22 21
Sep. 2010 Jul. 2011 Mar. 2012
Favor 34% 33 31
Oppose 20% 22 19
Do you think there should or should not be adoption rights for gay spouses? Should 29% 36 36 40 36 39 46 46 45 53 Should not 65% 52 47 49 56 50 47 44 47 39
Feb. 3-4, 1994 May 22-23, 1996 Oct. 17-18, 1996 Jun. 19-20, 1997 Jul. 30-31, 1998 Mar. 9-10, 2000 Feb. 7-Sep. 4, 2000 Apr. 25-26, 2002 Feb. 5-6, 2004 Dec. 3-4, 2008
PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Kaiser PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek
And do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose allowing gays and lesbians to adopt children? Strongly favor 10% 14 11 16 Strongly oppose 27% 22 28 26
Sep. 1999 Mar. 2006 Jul. 2006 Aug. 2008
SRB/Pew Research Center SRB/Pew Research Center SRB/Pew Research Center SRB/Pew Research Center
Favor 28% 32 31 30
Oppose 30% 26 24 22
Do you think that homosexual couples should be legally permitted to adopt children or dont you think so? Yes, legal 29% 28 35 46 No 63% 65 57 50
Aug. 1992 Jun. 1994 Oct. 1998 Sep. 2007
Time/CNN Time/CNN Time/CNN Gallup
On another subject, thinking about adoption in general, would you favor or oppose allowing gay and lesbian couples to adopt a child? Favor 14% 40 Oppose 77% 52
Jun. 1977 Mar. 2004
Gallup LAT
66
Mar. 2006 May 2006 May 2007
Pew ABC/Time CNN/ORC
46 49 57
48 48 40
Note: Question wording varies. Gallup asked, do you think homosexuals should or should not be allowed to adopt children? The LA Times asked do you favor or oppose gay couples legally adopting children? Pew asked, As I list some programs and proposals that are being discussed in this country today, please tell me whether you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose eachAllowing gays and lesbians to adopt children? CNN asked, Do you think gay or lesbian couples should or should not have the legal right to adopt a child? What about adoption of children by two men or two women who live together as a couple, whether they are married or not. Do you approve or disapprove or dont feel strongly about the issue? -----------Male couple adopting------Dont feel Approve Disapprove strongly 15% 65% 18% 21 57 18 33 45 15 ---------Female couple adopting--------Dont feel Approve Disapprove strongly 16% 61% 21% 22 55 19 36 43 16
1996 2000 2004
Harris Harris Harris
Thinking more generally, Im going to read you some statements, some of which you will probably agree with, others you will probably disagree with. The first isgay and lesbian couples can be as good parents as heterosexuals, do you completely agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or completely disagree with this statement? Completely agree 32% 30 Somewhat agree 22% 24 Somewhat disagree 11% 11 Completely disagree 28% 26
Feb. 7-Sep. 4, 2000* Oct. 15-19, 2003
PSRA/Kaiser Pew
Note: *Question wording was Now Im going to read you a series of statements that describe different views about gays, lesbians and human sexuality. Some statements will probably come very close to describing your own opinions, while others will not come close at all. As I read each statement, please tell me if you completely agree with it, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or completely disagree with it. Would you favor or oppose this proposalallowing gay couples to adopt a child? Favor 24% 38 Oppose 70% 57
May 25-26, 1993 Sep. 1-12, 1999
US News Pew
If gay couples are allowed to marry, should it be easy for them to adopt children as it is for heterosexual married couples, should it be more difficult, or should they not be allowed to adopt at all? As easy 30% 30 More difficult 20% 20 Not allowed at all 44% 44
May 1996 Jul. 1997
PSRA/Newsweek PSRA
Do you support or oppose allowing same-sex couples to adopt children? Support adoption 53% Oppose 40%
Apr. 21-27, 2009
Quinnipiac
Do you think homosexual couples should or should not have the legal right to adopt a child? Should 49% Should not 48%
May 5-7, 2003
Gallup
67
Do you approve or disapprove or dont feel strongly about a male couple adopting a child? Approve 21% Disapprove 57%
Jan. 6-10, 2000
Harris Interactive
Note: A September 2002 poll in Great Britain found that 44 percent agreed with the statement Gay couples should be allowed to adopt children and 36 percent disagreed. In a 2000 poll the results were 33 percent agreed and 55 percent disagreed. For more information, go to http://www.mori.com/digest/2002/pd021101.shtml. Do you think homosexuals should or should not be allowed to adopt children? Should 14% Should not 77%
Jun. 17-20, 1977
Gallup
PARTY IDENTIFICATION & VOTING OF GAYS, LESBIANS, AND BISEXUALS: Gays, lesbians, and bisexuals have always been strongly Democratic in their voting habits. In 2012, about three-quarters of those who self-identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual in the exit poll voted for Barack Obama. However, as with Americans as a whole, growing percentages consider themselves independent.
Are you gay, lesbian, or bisexual?* Voters Year 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 Pollster VRS VNS VNS NEP NEP NEP Yes 2% 5 4 4 4 5 -------How Self-Identified Gays Voted-----Clinton 72% Bush 14% Clinton 66 Dole 22 Gore 71 Bush 25 Kerry 77 Bush 23 Obama 70 McCain 27 Obama 76 Romney 22
Note: National exit polls. *Voters check boxes on the exit poll ballot if vari ous terms apply to them. In politics today, do you consider yourself a Republican, Democrat, or independent? (Asked of gays, lesbians, and bisexuals only) Democrat 72% 61 59 Republican 7% 8 10 Independent 19% 26 27
Apr. 1993 Feb.-Sep. 2000* Mar. 2000
PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Kaiser PSRA/Newsweek
Regardless of how you may vote, what do you usually consider yourself a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent, or some other party? (Asked of gays and lesbians only) Democrat 38% Republican 18% Independent 41%
Apr. 2000
Harris Interactive
68
In last Novembers presidential election, when Clinton ran against Bush and Perot, did things come up that kept you from voting, or did you happen to vote? (If Yes) Did you happen to vote for Clinton, Bush or Perot? (Asked of gays and lesbians only) Clinton 89% Bush 2% Perot 3%
Apr. 1993
PSRA/Newsweek
Note: This is not an exit poll.
THE 2004, 2008, AND 2012 CAMPAIGNS: In the three most recent presidential elections, gay marriage has ranked very low among voters priorities, and many admitted that the candidates positions on gay marriage had little bearing in their voting decisions. Solid majorities consistently said that they would vote for a candidate who differed with their own views on gay marriage.
The 2004 Campaign

Is it possible you would ever vote for a candidate who does not share your views on the issue of gay marriage, or is the subject so important that you could not vote for a candidate who disagrees with it? Yes, would 52% 45 56 64 57 No, would not 40% 44 35 28 33
Feb. 24-27, 2004 Mar. 10-14, 2004 May 20-23, 2004 Oct. 28-30, 2004 Nov. 18-21, 2004
CBS CBS/NYT CBS CBS/NYT CBS/NYT
Note: Asked of registered voters. Which do you think comes closer to reflecting your own views on the issue of gay marriage-- George W. Bush or John Kerry? Bush 38% 46 44 41 39 46 Kerry 29% 33 36 39 43 41
Feb. 5-6, 2004 July 29-30, 2004 Sep. 2-3, 2004 Oct. 14-15, 2004 Oct. 21-22, 2004 Oct. 27-29, 2004
PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek
Note: Asked of registered voters. Now Id like you to compare George W. Bush and John Kerry on a few issues. For each one, please tell me whether you think that George W. Bush or John Kerry would be better on that issue. If you think that both would be equally good and that neither would be good on a particular issue, just say so.Same-sex marriage? George W. Bush better NBC/WSJ 39% NBC/WSJ 39 NBC/WSJ 37 John Kerry better 29% 34 33 Both would be equally good 8% 7 11 Neither would be good 10% 9 12
May 2004 Sep. 17-19, 2004 Oct. 16-18, 2004
69
In response to a question on homosexuality in the last presidential debate, Kerry mentioned that Vice President Dick Cheneys daughter is a lesbian. Thats something Cheney has acknowledged. Do you think that it was appropriate or inappropriate for Kerry to mention it? Appropriate Not appropriate Oct. 12-14, 2004^ ABC 33% 64% Note: ^ Asked of likely voters.
Who do you think would do the best job of handling social issues, such as abortion and gay marriage: George W. Bush or John Kerry? Bush 43% Kerry 41%
Sep. 25-28, 2004
LAT
Which one of the following issues will be most important to your vote for president? Sep. 21-22, 2004 Fox News/Opinion Dynamics Extremely important 23% 12 22 5 7 8 8 4 4
The economy Health care/Medicare Terrorism/Homeland security Education Social Security Iraq Foreign policy Taxes Gay marriage June 22 -23, 2004 Fox News/Opinion Dynamics
The economy Health care/Medicare Terrorism/Homeland security Education Social Security Iraq Foreign policy Taxes Gay marriage
Extremely important 26% 16 18 6 6 5 5 4 3
Thinking about how the gay marriage issue might affect your vote for major offices, would you only vote for a candidate who shares your views on gay marriage, consider a candidates position on gay marriage as just one of many important factors when voting, or would you not see gay marriage as a major issue? Candidates must share view 16% 16 One of many important factors 46% 49 Not a major issue 35% 33
May 2-4, 2004 May 8-11, 2008
Gallup Gallup
Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Bush is handling the issue of same sex marriage? Approve 44% 45 Disapprove 52% 49
Mar. 2004 Apr. 2004
ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post
70
Who do you trust to do a better job handling the issue of same sex marriage, Bush or Kerry? Bush 44% 51 Kerry 43% 35
Mar. 2004 Apr. 2004
ABC/Wash Post ABC/Wash Post
He would do a better job of handling the issue of same-sex marriage: Does this apply more to George W. Bush or more to John Kerry? Bush Kerry Mar. 27-30, 2004 LAT 36% 35% Regardless of how you intend to vote, who do you think would do a better job on gay marriage--George W. Bush or John Kerry? Bush 41% Kerry 37%
Mar. 16-22, 2004
Quinnipiac
Regardless of which presidential candidate you support, please tell me if you think John Kerry or George W. Bush would handle each of the following issues. How about gay marriage? Bush 46% Kerry 41%
Mar. 5-7, 2004
Gallup/CNN/USA Today
I am going to read you a list of some of the issues that will probably be discussed in next years presidential election campaigns. As I read each one, please tell me how important the candidates positions on that issue will be in influencing your vote for president? Feb. 6-8, 2004 Gallup Extremely important 43% 41 39 38 38 30 29 25 23 22 22 21 21 19
Terrorism Education Situation in Iraq Economy Healthcare Federal budget deficit Taxes Environment Corporate corruption Abortion Same-sex marriage Foreign affairs Gun policy Immigration
What if a presidential candidate favored gay marriage? Would that make you more likely to support that candidate, less likely, or wouldnt it make any difference in your decision to support a particular candidate? More likely 10% No difference 39% Less likely 49%
Aug. 8-12, 2003
AP
71
If a presidential candidate favored allowing gays and lesbians to form a civil union that would give them the same rights and benefits as a married couple, would that make you more likely to support that candidate, less likely, or wouldnt it make any difference? More likely 12% No difference 43% Less likely 44%
Aug. 8-12, 2003
AP
The 2008 Campaign

In making your decision about who to vote for this fall, will the issue of gay marriage be very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not at all important? Very 22% 28 28 Somewhat 21% 21 21 Not too 21% 19 21 Not at all 32% 29 27
Oct. 2007 May 2008 Oct. 2008
Pew Pew Pew
Note: Question asked of registered voters. Demographic breakdown, Party ID Oct. 2007 Republican Democrat Independent May 2008 Republican Democrat Independent 41% 22 23 17% 25 19 17% 20 20 22% 29 35 27% 20 21 19% 24 23 20% 21 20 31% 30 33
What if a presidential candidate took a position on gay marriage that was different from your own, would you still consider voting for him because of his position on other issues, or would you not vote for him under any circumstances? Still consider 72% 72 Not vote 22% 22
Jun. 2008* Jul. 2008#
Time/Abt SRBI Time/Abt SRBI
Demographic breakdown, Party ID Jun. 2008 Republican Democrat Independent Jul. 2008 Republican Democrat Independent 63% 75 78 33% 17 18 65% 75 75 31% 18 20
Note: *Question asked of registered voters who said they will definitely/probably vote in the 2008 election. #Question asked of likely voters.
72
How important will policies toward gays and lesbians be to your vote for President in 2008? Extremely 13% 10 16 Very 15% 17 20 Moderately Not that important 30% 41% 27 45 27 37
May 2007 Nov. 2007 Jun. 2008*
CNN/ORC CNN/ORC CNN/ORC
Demographic breakdown, Party ID May 2007 Republican Democrat Independent Nov. 2007 Republican Democrat Independent Jun. 2008 Republican Democrat Independent Note: *Question asked of registered voters. If you knew a presidential candidate was a strong supporter of gay rights, including same-sex marriages and gays and lesbians serving openly in the military, would that make you more or less likely to vote for that candidate or would it not make much difference either way? More 12% Less 34% No difference 51% 19% 15 14 19% 20 19 29% 29 24 33% 36 43 12% 10 10 16% 17 17 25% 30 26 47% 42 47 15% 13 11 16% 17 14 30% 29 31 38% 41 43
Aug. 2007
PRSA/Newsweek
Note: Question asked of registered voters. Would the following information about a presidential candidate cause you to vote against this candidate? The candidate was a strong supporter of full marriage rights for same-sex couples. Yes 38% No 59%
Mar. 2007
PRSA/Newsweek
Demographic breakdown, Party ID Republican Democrat Independent 49% 31 35 47% 67 63
The 2012 Campaign

Below are some issues facing the country. For each one, indicate whether you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the issue. . . Gay rights. Economist/YouGov Strongly approve 10% Somewhat approve 21% Somewhat disapprove 18% Strongly disapprove 24%
Jan. 2-5, 2010
73
Jan. 10-12, 2010 Jan.16-19, 2010 Jan. 24-26, 2010 Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2010 Feb. 7-9, 2010 Feb. 13-16, 2010 Feb. 21-23, 2010 Feb. 28-Mar. 2, 2010 Mar. 6-8, 2010 Mar. 13-16, 2010 Mar. 20- 22, 2010 Mar. 27-30, 2010 Apr. 3-6, 2010 Apr. 10- 13, 2010 Apr. 17-20, 2010 Apr. 24-27, 2010 May 1-4, 2010 May 8-11, 2010 May 15-18, 2010 May 22-25, 2010 May 29-Jun. 1, 2010 Jun. 5-8, 2010 Jun. 12-15, 2010 Jun. 19-22, 2010 Jun. 26-29, 2010 Jul 3-6, 2010 Jul. 10-13, 2010 Jul. 17-20, 2010 Jul.24-27, 2010 Jul. 31- Aug. 3, 2010 Aug. 7-10, 2010 Aug. 14-17, 2010 Aug. 28-31, 2010 Sep. 4-7, 2010 Sep. 11-14, 2010 Sep. 18-21, 2010 Sep. 25-28, 2010 Oct. 2-5, 2010 Oct. 9-12, 2010 Oct. 16-19, 2010 Oct. 23-26, 2010 Oct. 28- Nov. 1, 2010 Nov. 6-9, 2010 Nov. 13-16, 2010 Nov. 20-23, 2010 Nov. 27-30, 2010 Dec. 4-7, 2010 Dec. 11-14, 2010 Dec. 18-21, 2010 Dec. 25- 28, 2010 Jan. 1-4, 2011 Jan. 8-11, 2011 Jan. 15-18, 2011 Jan. 22-25, 2011
10 8 9 10 12 14 14 11 11 9 11 11 10 12 10 11 11 10 11 9 13 12 12 14 10 12 12 12 10 10 11 9 9 10 11 12 10 9 9 11 10 10 10 7 9 10 11 8 17 21 18 16 17 18
23 23 23 25 25 26 23 27 25 24 22 23 23 24 25 27 25 24 24 26 24 24 23 24 24 26 24 23 25 22 23 22 22 24 23 23 24 26 24 24 25 26 22 24 25 24 25 21 24 23 25 27 24 23
16 17 16 17 15 13 13 13 13 15 18 14 15 11 13 14 15 14 15 14 12 14 13 12 14 15 13 12 15 14 17 15 17 13 15 16 15 18 15 18 17 17 17 17 17 16 15 21 13 13 11 11 13 11
23 26 21 23 23 21 25 23 21 24 23 24 24 23 23 24 23 24 25 23 24 24 25 26 27 24 25 24 24 23 26 30 28 25 27 27 26 24 26 26 27 28 25 27 26 25 26 26 26 25 26 25 24 24
74
Jan. 29- Feb. 1, 2011 Feb. 5- 8, 2011 Feb. 12-15, 2010 Feb. 19-22, 2011 Feb. 26-Mar. 1, 2011 Mar. 5- 8, 2011 Mar. 12-15, 2011 Mar. 19-22, 2011 Mar. 26-29, 2011 Apr. 2-5, 2011 Apr. 9-12, 2011 Apr. 16-19, 2011 Apr. 23-26, 2011 Apr 30-May 3, 2011 May 7-10, 2011 May 14- 17, 2011 May 21-24, 2011 May 28-31, 2011 Jun. 4-7, 2011 Jul. 2-5, 2011 Jul. 9-12, 2011 Jul. 16-19, 2011 Jul. 23-26, 2011 Jul. 30-Aug. 2, 2011 Aug. 6-9, 2011 Aug. 13-16, 2011 Aug. 20-23, 2011 Aug. 27-30, 2011 Sep. 3-6, 2011 Sep. 17-20, 2011 Sep. 24-27, 2011 Oct. 1-4, 2011 Oct. 8-11, 2011 Oct. 15-18, 2011 Oct. 22-25, 2011 Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2011
16 16 16 16 17 15 16 15 12 15 13 12 12 15 11 13 12 13 12 13 13 14 14 14 14 13 12 10 15 12 17 18 17 15 14 15
27 28 22 24 23 24 24 24 23 23 24 26 25 21 28 22 26 21 25 24 24 26 26 24 24 23 25 25 21 21 20 21 21 23 24 24
12 13 13 12 11 13 13 14 12 14 13 12 12 14 14 13 12 14 13 13 11 13 13 13 13 10 11 12 13 13 11 11 10 13 12 11
23 22 25 24 26 26 24 22 27 25 26 24 23 23 21 23 28 23 24 27 24 25 24 25 25 25 25 24 23 26 28 24 28 26 26 23
How important will each of the following issues be to your vote for President [next/this year] will it be extremely important, very important, moderately important, or not that important? Extremely important 17% 19 Very important 17% 16 Moderately important 21% 22 Not that important 45% 42
Jun. 2011 Jul. 2012
CNN/ORC CNN/ORC
And please tell me if you approve, disapprove or neither approve nor disapprove the way Barack Obama is handling each of the following issues. How about same sex marriage? Approve 43% 47 Disapprove 47% 48 Neither 4% 3
Aug. 2011 Jun. 2012
AP-GfK/Roper AP-GfK/Roper
75
In deciding who would like to see elected President this year, which one of the following issues be most important to you . . .? May 2012 CBS/NYT 62% 11 9 7 4 2 3 2
The economy and jobs The federal budget deficit Health care Same-sex marriage Foreign policy Immigration Something else DK/NA
Does Barack Obamas support of same-sex marriage make you more likely to vote for him, less likely to vote for him, or wouldnt it affect how you will vote one way or another? More likely Less likely 16% 25% No effect 58%
May 2012
CBS/NYT
Demographic Breakdowns Republicans Democrats Independents 2% 29 14 43% 12 22 53% 58 63
Does Mitt Romneys opposition to same-sex marriage make you more likely to vote for him, less likely to vote for him, or wouldnt it affect how you will vote one way or another? More likely Less likely 23% 14% No effect 59%
May 2012
CBS/NYT
Demographic Breakdowns Republicans Democrats Independents 40% 11 20 2% 28 20 57% 60 59
Would you be more likely to support Barack Obama because he supports same-sex marriage, Mitt Romney because he opposes same-sex marriageor does this not make much different in how you might vote? And, would it be much more likely to vote for Barack Obama because he supports or Mitt Romney because he opposes same-sex marriage, or just somewhat more likely? May 2012 NBC/WSJ 13% 4 6 14 62
Much more likely vote for Barack Obama Somewhat more likely vote for Barack Obama Somewhat more likely vote for Mitt Romney Much more likely to vote for Mitt Romney No difference Note: Asked of registered voters.
Id like to ask you about how important some issues are to you. In making your decision about who to vote for this fall, will the issue of gay marriage be very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not at all important? Very important 34% 32 22 Somewhat important 19% 22 21 Not too important 15% 19 21 Not at all important 30% 24 32
Aug. 2004 Oct. 2004 Oct. 2007
Pew Pew Pew
76
May 2008 Aug. 2008 Oct. 2008 Jul.Aug. 2010 Apr. 2012
Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew
28 28 28 31 28
21 20 21 20 20
19 18 21 17 18
29 32 27 31 30
COMPARISONS WITH OTHER ISSUES: NORC data indicates that Americans have become more accepting of premarital sex; slightly more than half of Americans say that it is not wrong at all. However, attitudes towards extramarital sexual relations have become slightly more conservative. In 1973, seven in ten Americans said that extramarital sex was always wrong; in 2010, about eight in ten gave that answer.
There's been a lot of discussion about the way morals and attitudes about sex are changing in this country. If a man and woman have sex relations before marriage, do you think it is always wrong, almost always wrong, wrong only sometimes, or not wrong at all? ---------------Premarital sexual relations---------Always wrong Almost always Only sometimes 36% 11% 25% 33 13 24 31 12 25 31 10 23 28 12 20 29 9 21 28 9 25 28 9 20 28 9 23 26 10 22 28 9 23 25 11 25 28 10 20 27 10 22 26 10 21 24 10 23 27 9 21 28 9 21 28 8 20 27 10 19 26 9 20 23 7 15 21 8 18
1972 1974 1975 1977 1978 1982 1983 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1993 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010
Not wrong 28% 30 32 36 40 41 36 44 40 41 40 40 42 41 44 44 43 42 44 44 46 55 53
77
Cohort Analysis of NORC Data Premarital sex not wrong at all Generation Gap 1972-2010 ---------------------------------------------AGE----------------------------------------18-24 1972 1985 1996 2010 NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS 49 50 52 54 25-34 37 57 49 64 35-44 25 54 49 56 45-54 19 39 48 55 55-64 19 26 33 52 65+ 15 27 21 37
What about a married person having sexual relations with someone other than the marriage partner, it is always wrong, almost always wrong, wrong only sometimes, or not wrong at all?
1973 1974 1976 1977 1980 1982 1984 1985 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1993 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010
Always wrong 70% 74 69 73 71 73 71 75 73 79 78 79 77 77 79 78 79 79 79 80 81 83 79
Almost always 15% 12 16 14 16 13 18 14 15 13 13 13 14 14 13 15 13 11 13 12 11 9 12
Only sometimes 12% 12 12 10 10 11 9 9 9 6 7 7 7 6 7 5 6 7 4 5 5 5 6
Not wrong 4% 3 4 3 4 3 2 3 3 2 2 1 3 3 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 1 2
78
Cohort Analysis of NORC Data Extramarital sex always wrong Generation Gap 1991-2008 ---------------------------------------------AGE----------------------------------------18-24 1991 1994 1998 2008 NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS NORC/GSS 75 79 85 85 25-34 71 80 77 74 35-44 65 77 81 85 45-54 81 77 79 79 55-64 73 88 84 84 65+ 83 87 82 83
Next, Im going to read you a list of issues. Regardless of whether or not you think it should be legal, for each one, please tell me whether you personally believe that in general it is morally acceptable or morally wrong. How about? Gallup 2001 Morally Morally acceptable wrong 42% 45% 63 27 49 40 65 26 60 53 7 59 31 7 13 NA NA NA NA 40 32 42 89 28 63 88 78 NA NA NA NA 53 2002 Morally Morally acceptable wrong 38% 53% 65 28 50 44 63 30 59 53 9 63 29 7 12 52 45 NA NA 38 35 42 87 28 66 90 83 39 50 NA NA 55 2003 Morally Morally acceptable wrong 37% 53% 64 31 45 49 63 33 60 58 6 66 29 8 14 54 51 63 7 44 36 41 93 27 68 90 81 38 46 34 92 52
Abortion The death penalty Doctor assisted suicide Medical testing on animals Buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur Sex between an unmarried man and woman Married men and women having an affair Divorce Cloning animals Cloning humans Suicide Medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos Having a baby outside of marriage Gambling Polygamy, when one husband has more than one wife at the same time Homosexual behavior
Abortion The death penalty Doctor assisted suicide Medical testing on animals Buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur Sex between an unmarried man and woman Married men and women having an affair Divorce Cloning animals
2004 2005 Morally Morally Morally Morally acceptable wrong acceptable wrong 40% 50% 40% 51% 65 28 70 25 53 41 49 46 62 32 66 30 63 60 7 66 32 31 36 91 26 64 64 58 5 66 35 32 39 93 27 61
2006 Morally Morally acceptable wrong 43% 44% 71 22 50 41 61 32 62 59 4 67 29 32 37 93 24 65
79
Cloning humans Suicide Medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos Having a baby outside of marriage Gambling Polygamy, when one husband has more than one wife at the same time Homosexual behavior*
9 15 54 49 66 7 42
88 79 37 45 30 91 54
9 13 60 54 64 6 44
87 82 33 43 32 92 52
8 15 61 51 60 5 44
88 78 30 43 34 93 51
Abortion The death penalty Doctor assisted suicide Medical testing on animals Buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur Sex between an unmarried man and woman Married men and women having an affair Divorce Cloning animals Cloning humans Suicide Medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos Having a baby outside of marriage Gambling Polygamy, when one husband has more than one wife at the same time Homosexual behavior*
2007 2008 Morally Morally Morally Morally acceptable wrong acceptable wrong 40% 51% 40% 48% 66 27 62 30 49 44 51 44 59 37 56 38 58 59 6 65 36 11 16 64 54 63 8 47 38 38 91 26 59 86 78 30 42 32 90 49 54 61 7 70 33 11 15 62 55 63 8 48 39 36 91 22 61 85 78 30 41 32 90 48
2009 Morally Morally acceptable wrong 36% 56% 62 30 39 56 57 36 61 57 6 62 34 9 15 57 51 58 7 49 35 40 92 30 63 88 80 36 45 36 91 47
Abortion The death penalty Doctor assisted suicide Medical testing on animals Buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur Sex between an unmarried man and woman Married men and women having an affair Divorce Cloning animals Cloning humans Suicide Medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos Having a baby outside of marriage Gambling Polygamy, when one husband has more than one wife at the same time
2010 2011 Morally Morally Morally Morally acceptable wrong acceptable wrong 38% 50% 39% 51% 65 26 65 28 46 46 45 48 59 34 55 38 60 59 6 69 31 9 15 59 54 61 7 35 38 92 23 63 88 77 32 40 34 90 56 60 7 69 32 12 15 62 54 64 11 39 36 91 23 62 84 80 30 41 31 86
2012 Morally Morally acceptable wrong 38 51 58 34 45 48 55 38 60 59 7 67 34 10 14 58 54 64 11 35 38 89 25 60 86 80 33 42 31 86
80
Homosexual behavior* Pornography Birth control
52 NA NA
43 NA NA
56 30 NA
39 66 NA
54 31 89
42 64 8
Note: This was changed to homosexual relations in 2005, and then to gay and lesbian relations in 2009. Now I am going to read a list of things that some peop le do. For each, thinking about your own values and morals, Id like you to tell me whether you think it is: always acceptable; acceptable in some situations but not in others; unacceptable, but should be tolerated by society; or unacceptable and should not be tolerated . . . ? Jul.-Aug. 2003 Wash Post/Kaiser/Harvard Sometimes acceptable 23% 34 57 57 41 14 10 42 26 26 13 10 Not acceptable 12% 24 9 17 18 53 61 38 52 55 68 72
Always acceptable Marriages between blacks and whites 52% Sex before marriage 21 Divorce 19 Drinking alcohol 16 Having a child without being married 16 Sex between two adults of the same sex 13 Marriages between two persons of the same sex 13 Abortion 9 Making a sexist remark in a private conversation 6 Smoking marijuana 5 Making a racist remark in a private conversation 4 A married person having an affair 1
Tolerated 11% 19 14 9 23 18 15 10 15 12 14 17
Do you favor or oppose state laws that regulate consenting sexual relations that occur in the private home of an? Apr. 17-23, 2003 Harris Interactive Favor 13% 14 18 18 Oppose 87% 86 82 82
Adult married opposite-sex couple Adult unmarried opposite-sex couple Adult same-sex couple in a domestic partnership Adult same-sex couple not in a domestic partnership
YOUTH ATTITUDES: Not surprisingly, young peoples attitudes towards homosexuality and gay marriage are consistently more liberal than those of the population as a whole. Around three-quarters of college freshmen say they support same-sex marriage, and slightly more agree that gay couples should have the ability to adopt a child.
How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Homosexual relationships between consenting adults are morally wrong. Agree 29% Disagree 38% Neither 29% (p)
Feb. 2010
Harvard IOP
81
Mar. 2011 Apr. 2012
Harvard IOP Harvard IOP
25 25
42 42
29 (p) 33
Note: Sample is of 18-29 year olds. It is important to have laws prohibiting homosexual relationships. ---------------College Freshmen--------------Strongly agree or agree somewhat UCLA-CIRP* 47% UCLA-CIRP 49 UCLA-CIRP 46 UCLA-CIRP 47 UCLA-CIRP 49 UCLA-CIRP 49 UCLA-CIRP 47 UCLA-CIRP 49 UCLA-CIRP 48 UCLA-CIRP 48 UCLA-CIRP 52 UCLA-CIRP 53 UCLA-CIRP 49 UCLA-CIRP 45 UCLA-CIRP 44 UCLA-CIRP 42 UCLA-CIRP 38 UCLA-CIRP 36 UCLA-CIRP 34 UCLA-CIRP 31 UCLA-CIRP 34 UCLA-CIRP 34 UCLA-CIRP 33 UCLA-CIRP 30 UCLA-CIRP 30 UCLA-CIRP 26 UCLA-CIRP 25 UCLA-CIRP 26 UCLA-CIRP 30 UCLA-CIRP 27 UCLA-CIRP 26 UCLA-CIRP 24 UCLA-CIRP 23
1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Note: *Cooperative Institutional Research Program, American Freshman Study, University of California at Los Angeles. Same-sex couples should have the right to legal marital status. ---------College freshmen-----Strongly agree or agree somewhat UCLA-CIRP 50% UCLA-CIRP 49
1997 1998
82
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012
UCLA-CIRP UCLA-CIRP UCLA-CIRP UCLA-CIRP UCLA-CIRP UCLA-CIRP UCLA-CIRP UCLA-CIRP UCLA-CIRP UCLA-CIRP UCLA-CIRP UCLA-CIRP
52 56 58 59 59 60 65 68 66 65 71 75
Gays and lesbians should have the legal right to adopt a child. -----College Freshmen----Strongly agree or agree somewhat 77%
2010
UCLA-CIRP
Which comes closest to your view? Gay couples should be allowed to legally marry, gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not legally marry, there should be no legal recognition of a gay couples relationship? Legally marry 44% Civil unions 24% No legal recognition 30%
Jun. 2007
CBS/MTV/NYT
Note: Sample is 17 to 29 year-olds. Do you think being a homosexual is something people choose to be, or do you think it is something they cannot change? Choose 43% Cannot change 50%
Jun. 2007
CBS/MTV/NYT
Note: Sample is 17 to 29 year-olds. Do you think homosexual relations between adults are morally wrong, or are they okay, or dont you care much either way? Wrong Okay Dont care May 30-Jun. 9, 2006 MTV/CBS 30% 27% 43% Note: National sample of 13-24 year olds. Forty-nine percent of adults said morally wrong while 13 percent said okay. Thirty-six percent did not care. Do you personally know anyone who is gay or lesbian? May 30-Jun. 9, 2006 MTV/CBS Yes 77% No 23%
Note: National sample of 13-24 year olds.
83
Do you have a close friend or family member who is gay or lesbian? Yes 49% No 51%
May 30-Jun. 9, 2006
MTV/CBS
Note: National sample of 13-24 year olds. Would you favor or oppose a Constitutional amendment that would define marriage as specifically involving a man and a woman, making same-sex marriages illegal and unconstitutional? Favor 43% Oppose 54%
Jan. 2-18, 2004
Ipsos/Newsweek/MSNBC
Note: Asked of 18-29 year old registered voters. Should same-sex marriages be legal, or not? Should 50% Should not 47%
Jan. 2-18, 2004
Ipsos/Newsweek/MSNBC
Note: Asked of 18-29 year old registered voters.
MISCELLANEOUS: According to Quinnipiac, more than half of registered voters now say that the Boy Scouts should end their ban on openly gay members. Americans are evenly divided on which party they think would be better at handling the issue of gay marriage. A clear majority also say they do not view gay marriage as a threat to traditional marriage.
Do you think The Boy Scouts of America should continue its ban on openly gay members or end its ban on openly gay members? Continue ban 33% End ban 55%
Jan. 2013
Quinnipiac
Note: Asked of registered voters. Do you think the Boy Scouts of America should or should not allow openly gay adults to serve as Boy Scout leaders? Yes, should allow No, should not 42% 52% No opinion 6%
Nov. 2012
Gallup/USA Today
Do you think each state should make its own laws on same-sex marriage, or do you think the federal government should make one law for all states on this issue? Each state 49% Fed. government 46% Unsure 5%
May 2012
ABC/Wash Post
84
Here is a list of some statements. For each one, please tell me how much you agree with it do you completely agree, mostly agree, mostly disagree, agree more than disagree, neither agree nor disagree, disagree more than agree, mostly disagree, or do you completely disagree with the statementGovernment should stay out of peoples personal lives, that is their choices about relationships, sex, family life, etc.? ----------------------Govt. should stay out of personal lives------------------------Completely Mostly Agree Disagree Mostly Completely agree agree more Neither more disagree disagree Roper GfK-NOP 1% 39% 27% 16% 10% 5% 2% Roper GfK-NOP 1 38 30 16 9 3 2 Roper GfK-NOP 1 36 33 17 7 3 3
Oct. 1995 Oct. 1997 Oct. 2000
Thinking more generally, Im going to read you some statements, some of which you will probably agree with, others you will probably disagree with. The first issociety should not put any restrictions on sex between consenting adults in the privacy of their own home, do you completely agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or completely disagree with this statement? Completely agree 76% 61 Somewhat agree 12% 19 Somewhat disagree 4% 5 Completely disagree 6% 8
Feb. 7-Sep. 4, 2000* Oct. 15-19, 2003
PSRA/Kaiser Pew
Note: *Wording was Now Im going to read you a series of statements that describe different views about gays, lesbians and human sexuality. Some statements will probably come very close to describing your own opinions, while others will not come close at all. As I read each statement, please tell me if you completely agree with it, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or completely disagree with it.
As you may know, the Episcopal Church has given its bishops the option of allowing clergy to bless the committed relationships of gay or lesbian couples. Do you approve or disapprove of this decision? Approve 33% Disapprove 60%
Aug. 7-11, 2003
Wash Post
Now thinking about your own religious faith or denomination, would you approve or disapprove of giving local churches the option of blessing committed relationships of gay or lesbian couples? Approve 31% Disapprove 63%
Aug. 7-11, 2003
Wash Post
If the church you regularly attend decided to allow blessings of gay or lesbian couples, would you continue to attend that church or would you look for another church to attend? Continue to attend 48% Look for another 47%
Aug. 7-11, 2003
Wash Post
When it comes to dealing with gay marriage, which party do you think would do a better job the Democratic party, the Republican party, or both about the same? If you think that neither would do a good job, please just say so. Democrats 33% 31 35 Republicans 26% 28 21 Both 10% 16 16 Neither 13% 14 20
Dec. 2003 Jan. 2004 Jun. 2006
NBC/WSJ NBC/WSJ NBC/WSJ
85
Im going to read you some positions that someone running for Congress could take. For each, please tell me whether you would be more likely to vote for a candidate for Congress who takes this position, less likely to vote for this candidate, or would it not make a difference to you either way? Favors adding an amendment to the Constitution that bans gay marriage. More likely 37% Less likely 39% No difference 22%
Jun. 9-12, 2006
NBC/WSJ
Do you think the Republicans in Congress or the Democrats in Congress would do a better job of dealing with each of the following issues and problems? How aboutsame-sex marriage? Republicans 34% Democrats 47%
Jun. 23-25, 2006
Gallup/USA Today
Do you think the question of whether gay marriage should be legal is something that should be decided at the national level, or is it something that each state should decide for itself? National 48% State 46%
Jul. 6-19, 2006
SRB/Pew Research Center
Some people say that not allowing same-sex couples to get married is discrimination. Do you agree or disagree? Its discrimination not allowing same-sex couples to get married 45%
Apr. 21-27, 2009
Quinnipiac
Is not 51%
Who do you think should decide whether same-sex couples should be allowed to get married: your state legislature or your state courts? Legislature 43% State courts 25% Both (vol.) 5% Neither (vol.) 16%
Apr. 21-27, 2009
Quinnipiac
Some people say that same-sex marriage is a threat to traditional marriage between a man and woman. Do you agree or disagree? Gay marriage is a threat to traditional marriage 39%
Apr. 21-27, 2009
Quinnipiac
It isnt 58%
Under current federal law states can refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. Do you think this law should remain in existence or not? Law should remain 50% 44 No, it shouldnt 44% 49
Apr. 21-27, 2009 Jul. 5-11, 2011
If a gay or lesbian couple gets legally married in another state, do you think that marriage should or should not be recognized as legal in your state? Should be Should not be Apr. 21-24, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 53% 43%
86
Do you think states should give legal recognition to same-sex marriages performed in other states or not? Should 44% Should not 50% Unsure 6%
Jul. 2008
Quinnipiac
Note: Asked of registered voters. Do you think laws regarding whether same-sex marriage is legal or not should be determined by the federal government or left to each individual state government to decide? Federal government State government 32% 57% Both 1%
May 2012
CBS/NYT
In general, do you think straight people in your community who have traditional religious values are tolerant of gays and lesbians and their beliefs, or not? Very tolerant 22% Somewhat tolerant 45% Somewhat intolerant 14% Very intolerant 14%
May 2009
Fox News/OD
Note: Asked of registered voters. In general, do you think gays and lesbians in your community are tolerant of straight people who have traditional religious values and their beliefs, or not? Very tolerant 32% Somewhat tolerant 43% Somewhat intolerant 10% Very intolerant 9%
May 2009
Fox News/OD
Note: Asked of registered voters.
In general, do you think government is paying too much, too little, or about the right amount of attention to the needs of gays and lesbians? Too much 41% Too little 22% About right 26% Unsure 11%
Apr. 2009
Quinnipiac
In general, do you think government is paying too much, too little, or about the right amount of attention to the needs of gays and lesbians? Too much 49% Too little 21% About right 22% Unsure 8%
Apr. 2009
Quinnipiac
Some people say that ending discrimination against gay men and women is as necessary today as ending discrimination against blacks was in the 1960s. Do you agree or disagree? Agree 44% Disagree 50% Unsure 6%
Apr. 2009
Quinnipiac
How much, if at all, do your religious beliefs determine your views on the issue of gay marriage? Are your religious beliefs very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not at all important in determining your views on gay marriage? Very important 41% Somewhat important 21% Not too important 11% Not at all important 23%
Dec. 2008
PSRA/Newsweek
87
Additional Polls: A number of survey organizations poll gays and lesbians about their attitudes. Some of them are listed here. A January 2000 survey by MORI (Market & Opinion Research International) provides data on British attitudes toward homosexuality. It can be found at http://www.mori.com/polls/2000/m000127.shtml. The Kaiser Family Foundations poll of gays, lesbians, and bisexuals and their attitudes regarding sexual orientation and public issues, conducted from February to September 2000, can be found at http://www.kff.org/content/2001/3193/LGB%20Revised%20Release.pdf. Zogby International, GLCensus Partners, The S.I. Newhouse School at Syracuse, OpusComm Group and GSociety are polling gays, lesbians, and bisexuals regularly about their attitudes (see http://www.zogby.com). PSRA/Newsweek has conducted four surveys on the attitudes of gays and lesbians, most recently in March 2000. The other surveys were conducted in July 1998, June 1994, and April 1993. Harris Interactive does surveys on the attitudes of gays and lesbians in conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communications. The most recent report was released in April 2004 (see http://www.witeckcombs.com/news.asp and http://www.harrisinteractive.com/). The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is polling gays, lesbians, and bisexuals regularly about their attitudes (see http://www.ngltf.org/). Zogby International and Le Moyne University have more extensive polling data on Catholics attitudes towards homosexuality (see http://www.lemoyne.edu/academics/zogby.htm ). The LA Times poll has information on Californians views in this area. (see http://www.latimes.com/news/custom/timespoll/).
Many pollsters in the United States regularly supply us with their data. This report could not have been done without their assistance, and we thank them for it. The data in this report come from the archive of public opinion polls at the American Enterprise Institute and from The Roper Centers archive at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut. The Roper Center is the oldest and largest archive of public opinion data in the world. To learn more about the Roper Center, visit http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/.
Gary Jacobson, The Electoral Origins Divided Government: Andrew of Rugg, Research Assistant Competition in U.S. House Elections. Boulder: Westview Press, 1990. Jennifer Marsico, Senior Research Associate
For comments questions Publishing Co., 1992. Morris Fiorina, Divided Government. New York: or MacMillan contact Karlyn Bowman at kbowman@aei.org, Andrew Rugg at andrew.rugg@aei.org, or Jennifer Marsico at Divided Government Defines the jennifer.marsico@aei.org. Era. In America at the Polls 1996, by Regina
Compiled by Karlyn Bowman, Senior Fellow
Dougherty, Everett C. Ladd, David Wilber, and Lynn Zayachkiwsky, 185-192. This document first appeared on Storrs: The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, 1997.
the AEI website in Oct. 2002
James Sundquist, Needed: A Political Theory for the New Era of Coalition Government in the United States. Political Science Quarterly 103: 613-35
88
Gary Jacobson, The Electoral Origins of Divided Government: Competition in U.S. House Elections. Boulder: Westview Press, 1990.

Polls On Attitudes On Homosexuality & Gay Marriage

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AEI Public Opinion S Studies

(Updated March 2013)

American Enterprise Institute compilation

American Enterprise Institute compilation

American Enterprise Institute compilation

Always wrong 73% 69 70 73 75 74 76 75 77 77 74 76 78 66 68 61 59 59 56 58 56 52 46

Not wrong 11% 13 16 14 14 14 13 12 12 13 15 13 15 22 23 28 28 29 32 30 32 38 43

American Enterprise Institute compilation

Jan. 2001 Jan. 2002 Jan. 2003

Gallup Gallup Gallup

American Enterprise Institute compilation

Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup

American Enterprise Institute compilation

Pew Pew Pew Pew

Jan. 2009 May 2010

Apr. 1978 Jun. 1994 Oct. 1998 Jan. 2001

CNN/Time CNN/Time CNN/Time CNN/Time

American Enterprise Institute compilation

Feb. 2004 Feb. 2010

American Enterprise Institute compilation

Yankelovich Yankelovich/CNN/Time Harris/CNN/Time Harris/CNN/Time

May 22-23, 1996 Jun. 16-20, 1997 Feb. 5-6, 2004

PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek PSRA/Newsweek

Feb. 7-Sept. 4, 2000* Oct. 15-19, 2003

Nov. 1986 Nov. 1991 Jul. 1998 Aug. 2003

Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP

Jan. 10-14, 2001 Jan. 7-9, 2002

American Enterprise Institute compilation

LAT LAT LAT LAT

Jan. 1987 Jan. 1990 Jan. 1995 Feb. 2000

Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP Roper GfK-NOP

June 15-16, 1994 Oct. 14-15, 1998

Jun. 4-8, 1993 Jun. 10-14, 1994

American Enterprise Institute compilation

Jul. 14-20, 2003

May 30-Jun. 1, 2003

May 30-Jun. 1, 2003

Apr. 17-23, 2003

Feb. 26-Mar. 3, 2003

May 10-14, 2001

American Enterprise Institute compilation

LAT LAT LAT LAT

American Enterprise Institute compilation

Mar. 27-30, 2004

Feb. 6-8, 2004

Oct. 15-19, 2003

American Enterprise Institute compilation

Oct. 15-19, 2003

Jul. 18-20, 2003

Aug. 10-27, 1998

Jun. 15-16, 1994

Sep. 18-22, 1983

Gallup Gallup Gallup Gallup CBS/NYT PSRA/Newsweek CBS/NYT CBS/NYT Gallup

American Enterprise Institute compilation

American Enterprise Institute compilation

Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup Gallup Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup

Gallup Gallup Gallup PSRA/Newsweek Gallup PSRA/Newsweek

American Enterprise Institute compilation

May 10-14, 2001 May 19-21, 2003 May 2-5, 2005

Gallup Gallup Gallup

Jul. 30-31, 1998 Mar. 9-10, 2000

Jan. 1982 Apr. 1987 Jan. 1992