New Poll: 59 Percent of Americans Oppose DOMA

As the last post noted, as scientific knowledge advances, it is becoming harder for religiously motivated bigots and extremists  to convince a majority of the American that deference should be given to their discriminatory beliefs.  A case in point seemly is DOMA - the federal Defense of Marriage Act - enacted back in the Clinton era to punish gays and lesbians for failing to conform to Christofascist views on marriage and sexuality.  A new poll indicates that 59% of Americans view DOMA to be discriminatory against LGBT citizens and support its repeal.  The Washington Blade has details on the survey findings which will no doubt cause hysteria among anti-gay hate groups - e.g., NOM, FRC, AFA and the U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference - and the professional Christian class.  Here are some article highlights: 

Fifty-nine percent of the American public say they oppose Section 3 of the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act after being told it prohibits the federal government from offering benefits to legally married same-sex couples.

The poll, commissioned by the Center for American Progress and Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, asked registered voters this question amid other inquiries regarding their beliefs on DOMA. The poll was conducted by Goodwin Simon Strategic Research and Voter Consumer Research.

Additionally, the poll asked respondents in a more abstract way whether they believe it’s discriminatory for the federal government to deny benefits to married same-sex couples. Sixty-two percent of registered voters said they believe withholding such benefits is discrimination..

Notably, the poll finds a greater proportion of the American public opposes DOMA than the bare majority that supports marriage equality. According to the poll, 52 percent of the American public supports same-sex marriage — which is consistent with earlier findings on the issue. That means seven percent oppose DOMA, but don’t support marriage equality.

The poll also breaks down views on the denial of certain rights and benefits. More than a majority support awarding each of these rights and benefits to married same-sex couples.

But the benefit that the smallest proportion of respondents supported for same-sex couples was Social Security benefits in case of the death of the spouse. Even so, 66 percent said the federal government shouldn’t deny these benefits. DOMA prohibits this benefit from flowing to same-sex couples.

Mary Bonauto, GLAD’s civil rights director, said she’s not surprised that a majority of the American public opposes DOMA given the harm the anti-gay law inflicts on same-sex couples.

“With each passing day, more and more Americans are learning how DOMA denies important marital protections and heaps disrespect on married same-sex couples across the country – and they’re saying, ‘Enough is enough,’ Bonauto said. “It’s not surprising that a majority of this country now believes that loving, committed couples in legal marriages should be treated fairly under federal law. It’s time for our laws to catch up with where public opinion is on abolishing DOMA.”

One can only hope that a majority of the justices on the U. S. Supreme Court are paying attention to polls like this one and what is happening in France, Britain, and even in Mexico.