Poll: Support For Same Sex Marriage Grows

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Polling

(CBS)

Forty-two percent of Americans now say same sex couples should be allowed to legally marry, a new CBS News/New York Times poll finds. That's up nine points from last month, when 33 percent supported legalizing same sex marriage.

Support for same sex marriage is now at its highest point since CBS News starting asking about it in 2004.

Twenty-eight percent say same sex couples should have no legal recognition – down from 35 percent in March – while 25 percent support civil unions, but not marriage, for gay couples.

As has historically been the case on this issue, liberals are more likely to support same sex marriage. Sixty-nine percent support the idea, while conservatives generally favor either civil unions (28 percent) or no legal recognition (44 percent).

Tonight's CBS News/New York Times Polls:
100 Days In, High Marks For Obama
Blacks See Improved Race Relations
Public Does Not Want Torture Probe
Support For Same Sex Marriage Grows
Video: Sarah Dutton Explains The Polls
Full Results (PDF): Obama | Race Relations | Waterboarding
Full Coverage Of Obama's First 100 Days

This poll was conducted among a random sample of 973 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone April 22-26, 2009. Phone numbers were dialed from RDD samples of both standard land-lines and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.

An oversample of African Americans were interviewed for a total of 212 interviews with African Americans. The results then weighted in proportion to the racial composition of the adult population in the U.S. Census. The margin of error for the sample of African Americans is 7 points.

This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
Follow on Twitter »

395 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment

See all 395 Comments

by wereallhumans December 4, 2010 1:37 AM EST

I have yet to hear a logical argument against gay marriage that agrees with the Constitution of the United States and the concept of separation of church and state. Somebody please, give me a LOGICAL reason, BESIDES WHAT IT SAYS IN THE BIBLE (a book written by humans, not God), as to why men should not be allowed to marry men.

Reply to this comment


by orarewedancers March 19, 2011 7:48 PM EDT: It's an oxymoron, or it defies the ancient definition of marriage.

by patellk September 21, 2010 7:14 PM EDT

People on both sides of this issue are in my prayers. Truth will win out in the end. I don't believe in hating anyone as we are ALL sinners and don't have everything figured out even though at times we like to think we do. I don't believe that living a homosexual lifestyle brings one closer to God and I derive my sense of values from how I personally interpret what I have read from the Bible and not an "angry or judgmental minister". I have gay friends who struggle with depression, a sense of emptiness, serious health issues, all besides the myriad of social challenges that are a direct result of living this lifestyle. I am not saying that all gay people feel this way all the time, but that these issues are commonly experienced in people among this group. It bothers me that more Christians do not step up to reach out to gay people, loving them as Jesus does, as they struggle with sin and deep inner needs as we all do. If we did, perhaps all of us, gay and straight, could come to a better understanding of God and a greater appreciation for ALL of his children.

Reply to this comment


by jeanettep42 November 18, 2010 3:00 AM EST: Depression doesn't care if you are gay or straight or if you are a Christian or a Catholic.

by sweetman2000 January 21, 2010 8:19 PM EST

It sadden me to think that some sick person continues to equate civil rights; black people, water fountains with sick people, people without moral, being a black man in America, it is insulting for anyone of you to mention sick gay marriages with being black and civil rights. Do your home work before you walk in our lane. We cannot change the color of our skins, being Gay is a choice made by the individual, I would love to see the emperical data that supports the notion that somehow you were born that way, i have heard all the suggestions, brains, etc.
g
a

Reply to this comment


by rationalthinker19 April 9, 2010 2:06 AM EDT: Hey, I have opposing opinion about a claim you made, being gay may not be a choice, heres my reasoning.
To assume someone choses to BE GAY, then you must recognize that everyone else is choosing not to BE GAY. Maybe i'm just an optimist but Id like to think that i'm straight because I was born a heterosexual and homosexuals were born just born gay, it just makes more since to me.

by HahgayMarriage October 30, 2009 2:56 PM EDT

And the next news media poll will be people who declare that they have the constitutional rights to marry their family dog, cat, hamster, ferret, pig, horse, cow, or whatever sick, twisted minds think about.

Equal rights my ass... LOL.

Reply to this comment


by wereallhumans December 4, 2010 1:28 AM EST: Good try, but the logic is slightly off. Dogs, cats, hamsters, ferrets, pigs, horses, and cows can't write; therefore, they can't sign marriage licenses. Humans, on the other hand, can do both.


by steveio2 May 16, 2011 10:54 PM EDT: Touche' weareallhumans !!!


by chrisnyc123 October 17, 2009 9:53 PM EDT: "Special rights for their perversion" Really? To me what breeders do in bed is disgusting and perverted. Yet, I am forced to accept their filthy life style which includes over 1,100 special rights and privileges that are systematically denied to me. If you don't like gay marriage, don't marry someone of the same gender. As long as I'm paying taxes in this unequal society, I will demand equal rights for everyone. With Liberty and Justice for ALL, not just breeders. Your hate is disgusting, shame on you!; Reply to this comment

by chrisnyc123 October 17, 2009 9:46 PM EDT

Gay marriage DOES NOT EFFECT the marriage of anyone else. It is merely a scare/hate tactic by the religious reich.

Reply to this comment


by Avirex18 May 8, 2010 2:00 PM EDT: Wow, religous reich, lets call Jesus a Nazi, I could very well say The Liberal Empire has complete control of the media and what we view... Its just words that are not used in the right context, dont believe this person,its just a bunch of over statements, not facts. Also it does effect other marriages, do parents want to go to school and find out that there is a gay kid trying get with one of there kids at a young age, because the Gay parents says its alright. Also, you wouldnt be here if you had gay parents. If they adopt, the child wont grow up with the right parents, you had a mom to care and teach you feelings, you had a dad to teach responsiblty, and strength, kids that just grow up with one out of the 2, have a harder child hood life. Being gay is a Social Disorder, which needs Phycatric* help, im gonna push for that in the future, so dont be suprised when people start agreeing with that, because if you ever noticed how pereveted some was has to be to like the same sex. Ask pro Gay people that our straight, why dont they like the same sex????? Its not nature, it wouldnt work! There pereveted, most gays our emos, drugies, sick people with severe issues, that need help. Not all, but a small portion of them are also child molestors, just saying. Its a Social Disorder, ask yourself WHY ARNT I ATRRACTED TO THE SEX?, BC NATURE WONT ALLOW IT.


by chrisnyc123 October 17, 2009 9:24 PM EDT: Good idea! We can also have a national vote to see if Black Americans should be slaves again, and if inter-racial couples should be banned. Oh, let's have a vote to see if women should loose the vote.

This is about civil rights plain and simple. We are only as free as our most discriminated citizens. If Gay people are discriminated against, then America is not the land of equality, let alone the land of the free and the brave.; Reply to this comment

by chrisnyc123 October 17, 2009 9:15 PM EDT

"I think it is digusting that men want to marry men and woman want to marry woman. What is this world coming to."

I think it is disgusting that men want to marry women and women want to marry men. What is the world coming to!

"God did not intend for this.,"

There is no such thing as "god," so keep your so called "beliefs" off my body. Religion is only for people willing to cede their agency, and money, and let the others do the thinking for them. It is nothing more than an ecclesiastic corporation. So sad.

"people wonder why this world is so messed up. Look at yourself and there's the answer. It makes me SICK"

Indeed. When people tell other people what to do, how to live, who to live, because of their own myopia, ignorance, and insecurity the world becomes messed up.

Reply to this comment


by HahgayMarriage October 30, 2009 2:51 PM EDT: lmao, No thing as God? Well, there's no such thing as a real atheist if you took any religion class.

The reason to support gay marriage because of equality is ludicrous. Thank God that there are some people here aren't manipulated by the media and gay people into accepting gay marriage lifestyle. They have common sense and actually listen to their conscience. Gay is simply wrong. Look at science itself. Every species on this earth evolved and increased population by males having sex with females, not males with males or females with females. The only species that don't have a spouse to increase population are asexual, meaning that they divide themselves.


by shellyk0011 October 1, 2009 5:30 AM EDT: Well, I have read the whole article about same sex marriage. I am not impressed to read these kind of dramas which is called same sex marriage by you.
====================================================================
<a href="http://mls.fastrealestate.net" rel="dofollow">mls listings</a>; Reply to this comment

by 1ofakindlady September 17, 2009 6:16 PM EDT

Years ago it was NOT popular opinion that Women should have the same rights as Men. It was the Government that made it law that Women and Men had equal rights to work and vote as well as many other rights. Now it is unheard of to think that a Woman shouldn't have the right to vote or work. I am a happily married mother of 3 sons. I also have friends that are in happy healthy same sex relationships. I am NOT prejudice and I would never want my sons to think that kind of attitude towards anyone is ok. We believe ALL PEOPLE should have the SAME Rights! That denying those rights is Wrong and Prejudice! Please, I beg of all of you, READ this entire site and consider it all the next time you pass on your opinions and judgements onto others... http://civilliberty.about.com/od/gendersexuality/a/marriageamend.htm

Reply to this comment


by chrisnyc123 October 17, 2009 9:16 PM EDT: The poll is 972 times better than one opinion, especially a naive and misinformed one like that of miss america.


by chrisnyc123 October 17, 2009 9:16 PM EDT: The poll is 972 times better than one opinion, especially a naive and misinformed one like that of miss america. Oh, by the way, I AM REAL AMERICA!