Same-Sex Marriage Support Solidifies Above 50% in U.S.

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A new Gallup poll brings more bad news for the Christofascists and their political whores in the Republican Party: Support for gay marriage has solidified above 50%.   For those who welcome equality under the law and who believe that committed couples should enjoy the same civil law rights, it's good news.   For those who only feel good about themselves when they can stigmatize and denigrate others and/or force their religious beliefs on others, it is obviously not welcome news.   Here are some of the findings in Gallup's newest poll:

PRINCETON, NJ - Fifty-three percent of Americans say the law should recognize same-sex marriages, the third consecutive reading of 50% or above in Gallup polling over the past year. The 53% in favor ties the high to this point, also measured last November and in May 2011.

Gallup's May 2-7 poll suggests Americans' support for gay marriage is solidifying above the majority level. Recently, Rhode Island and Delaware legalized same-sex marriage, and Minnesota is likely to follow suit. That would bring the total number of states legally recognizing same-sex marriage to 12.

Just three years ago, support for gay marriage was 44%. The current 53% level of support is essentially double the 27% in Gallup's initial measurement on gay marriage, in 1996.

Nearly all U.S. subgroups are more likely to favor gay marriage now than in the past. Politically, Democrats, independents, and liberals all show increasing support for gay marriage over time, with each well above the majority level now. Republicans, conservatives, and moderates are more likely to favor gay marriage now than in 1996, but the increase in support among these groups may have stalled. Thus, most of the increase in the percentage favoring legal gay marriage in the last three years has come among left-leaning groups politically.

Although a majority of Americans now favor legalizing gay marriage, that is not necessarily because they think it will be beneficial to society more broadly. A relatively small, but growing, proportion believes legalizing same-sex marriage will change society for the better. Currently, 19% hold this view, up from 10% in 2003.

I am sure that there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth in the offices of hate groups such as FRC, NOM and, here in Virginia, The Family Foundation.