What the Polls Show About Marriage
The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press released a new study on marriage rights for same-sex couples in August 2005. According to their report, public support for marriage equality has risen some after a drop in 2003 and 2004.
Since 2004, support for marriage for same-sex couples has risen seven points overall (now at 36 percent), and opposition has fallen seven points (down to 53 percent). At the same time, support for civil unions has increased slightly from 49 percent in August 2004 to 53 percent in the 2005 poll. Opposition to civil unions dropped from 44 percent in 2004 to 40 percent in August 2005.
Chart from Pew Research
On the issue marriage equality, opposition has dropped with most key audiences. Most notably, opposition to marriage rights for same-sex couples has dropped significantly among people over age 30, women over 50 and men under 30, people living in the West, white non-evangelical Protestants, white Catholics, Independents and moderate and liberal Republicans. Read the full report at the Pew Research Center website.
- A Boston Globe poll taken in May 2005 found that 48 percent of respondents approved of or were neutral toward marriage for same-sex couples (37 percent approved and 11 percent were neutral), with 50 percent opposed and 2 percent unsure. The poll also found that 53 percent approved of or were neutral toward civil unions for same-sex couples (46 percent approved and 7 percent were neutral), with 41 percent opposed and 7 percent unsure. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.6 percent with a sample of 760 respondents.
- An ABC News/Washington Post poll taken in April 2005 found that 56 percent of respondents favored some form of recognition for same-sex couples (27 percent favored marriage, 29 percent civil unions), while 40 percent opposed recognition and 4 percent were unsure. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percent with a sample of 1,082 respondents.
- A CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll conducted in March 2005 found that 47 percent favored some form of legal recognition for same-sex couples (20 percent favored marriage, 27 percent civil unions), while 45 percent opposed legal recognition and 8 percent were unsure. The margin of error was plus or minus 5 percent with a sample of 466 respondents.
- A CBS News/New York Times poll taken in February 2005 with 559 respondents found that 57 percent favored some form of legal recognition for same-sex couples (23 percent favored marriage, 34 percent civil unions), while 41 percent opposed legal recognition and 2 percent were unsure. Of Republicans polled, 45 percent favored some form of legal recognition (8 percent favored marriage, 37 percent civil unions).
- A Pew Research Center/Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life poll conducted in August 2004 found that 49 percent of respondents favored providing many of the legal rights of marriage to same-sex couples, while 45 percent were opposed. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percent with a sample of 1,512 respondents.
- A CBS News poll taken in May 2004 found that 57 percent of respondents favored some form of legal recognition for same-sex couples (28 percent favored marriage, 29 percent civil unions) while 40 percent were opposed to any legal recognition. The breakdown also found that 75 percent of people aged 18-29, 54 percent of people aged 30-44, 49 percent of the South and 49 percent of the Midwest favored some form of legal recognition. The West and Northeast overwhelming favored some form or legal recognition, with 66 percent and 67 percent respectively. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percent with a sample of 1,113 respondents.
- A May 2004 Fox News poll found that 51 percent of respondents favored some form of legal recognition for same-sex relationships (25 percent favored marriage, 26 percent “legal partnership”), while 40 percent opposed any form of legal recognition and 9 percent were unsure. An earlier sample with same question, taken in March 2004, resulted in 53 percent favoring recognition (20 percent favored marriage, 33 percent “legal partnership”), 40 percent opposed to legal recognition of any kind and 7 percent unsure. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percent with a sample of 900 respondents.
An August 2005 poll found that 37 percent of respondents favored recognition of marriages for same-sex couples with the same rights as opposite-sex marriage.