Majority of Californians say they would vote for same-sex marriage, poll shows

If a vote similar to Proposition 8 upholding a ban on same-sex marriage were held tomorrow, a majority of Californians say they would cast ballots in favor of allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry, according to a survey released Wednesday.

The poll was conducted in English and Spanish by the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Public Religion Research Institute, an organization focused on religion and values. It was based on random phone interviews with more than 3,300 Californians over a two-week period in late June, examining the religious-based attitudes toward same-sex marriage two years after Proposition 8 was approved.

The survey comes as California awaits a decision from a U.S. district court judge on whether Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution. It also included views toward gays and lesbians adopting children, openly serving in the military and workplace discrimination against homosexuals.

One in four Californians reported that their views on rights for gay and lesbian people had become more supportive over the last five years, compared with 8% who said they had become more opposed, the poll revealed.

Meanwhile, 29% of Californians polled said they believed Proposition 8 was bad for the state, compared with 22% who believed it was “a good thing.”

A total of 51% of Californians said they would vote to allow homosexuals to marry if a vote similar to Proposition 8 were held tomorrow, compared with 45% who said they would vote to keep same-sex marriage illegal, the survey showed.

“We have some good evidence here of the way the wind is blowing … in a more positive direction for the rights of gays and lesbians,” said Robert P. Jones, chief executive officer of the Public Religion Research Institute.

The poll highlighted shifting attitudes within the black community, divisions among Latinos, the influence of the clergy on parishioners and insights into the role of religion in shaping the Proposition 8 debate.

Among religious groups, ethnic minorities showed slightly more overall attitudinal changes than white religious groups, Jones said.

For example, twice as many black Protestants, or 27%, indicated they had become more supportive of homosexual rights, compared with 13% who indicated they had become more opposed.

Among Latino Catholics, 31% had become more supportive of gay rights issues compared with 9% who had become more opposed.

Jones said clergy played a strong role in influencing views on gay rights, since messages about homosexuality propagated at places of worship proved to correlate with parishioners’ views on same-sex marriage.

For example, among Californians who reported hearing negative messages from their clergy, only 19% said they supported same-sex marriage, and nearly half rejected legal recognition of the relationships between gay couples.

In contrast, among Californians who heard positive messages at their places of worship, six in 10 said marriages between homosexuals should be allowed.

An additional 22% said they supported civil unions, and only 18% opposed legal recognition of same-sex relationships, according to the survey.

“The role of religion is very helpful in clarifying the landscape,” Jones said.

-- Ann M. Simmons

Comments

[Mark]

They are little bit late to that bus... don't ya think?

[Joe Mustich, Justice of the Peace]

It' s time.

Onward to full civil and marriage equality rights in 21st century America.
Joe Mustich & Ken Cornet, Justices of the Peace,
Washington, Connecticut, USA.

And kudos to CT, a marriage equality state, unlike the currently flat earth states of NY & CA.

[alatinteacher]

Oh really, well then collect the required LEGAL signatures and put it on the voting ballot. But if you pro-gay marriage supporters LOSE......AGAIN......don't go crying to some LIBERAL DEMOCRATE appointed judge to overturn it.

[Gaucho420]

Of course this will get approved. In the US, hate tends to lose out to common sense in the long run and this will be another one of those that gets over-turned, as time and generations change.

Its amazing to me how hateful some people are, as displayed by alatinteacher below. Who has such a small, low life, to be concerned as to whom anyone else's marries??

Apparently, that guy! Forget the gays bro, worry about your own apparently very pathetic life!

[Joe]

I abstained from voting on Prop 8. But after seeing the despicable tactics employed by gay marriage advocates (harassing people at their work and homes) I would vote against it given another chance.

[JOEY]

Im a liberal type of guy, but come on...We voted already! That's like saying you need a do-over. The last one was a practice vote, so we have to do it again...Sorry, no more! Lets concentrate on something that's actually on the ballot this november...Marijuana Legalization!

[Ryu]

alatinteacher, Furthermore it was Conservative Judges that overturned prop 22.

[Michael Carmin-Romack]

It won't be long before Proposition 8 is removed from the state constitution with a voter approved amendment. To me, that's a non-issue. But it will be a good day when gay marriages are acknowledged by the feds. It may be a few more years, but it will happen and then my husband and I will see our share of the more than 1000 benefits heterosexual folks get by being married. IF you read the New York Times article http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/03/your-money/03money.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&ref=your-money&src=me you'd see what I mean. I wonder how much giving gay people there due, goes into the decision of voting for or being against gay marriage?

[Ucvbn Bjfyuvs]

See how the Mormon Church bought and paid for Prop 8 and then lied about its involvement. See how the Mormon Church lied about what Prop 8 would do. Watch:

8: The Mormon Proposition (Equality for Some)

http://www.mormonproposition.com/

[M]

@alatinteacher: I sincerely hope you aren't actually in charge of teaching anyone anything.

[Jesse]

This is really good news. I am glad to see that America is becoming more gay friendly and people are becoming more supportive. Probably in 10 or 15 more years, the whole entire United States will allow gay marriage.

[chuy]

I agree with Joe. I abstained from voting on prop. 8, but if I had the chance to vote on it again I would definitely vote against gay marriage. The pro gay marriage side acted like a bunch of anarchists after losing the election. Rather than look at the results and say, “We were close. Let’s keep trying to change the minds and hearts of people.” They resorted to tactics that quite frankly made them look like they have a weak argument.

[D L Stuart]

It does not matter Consertive, Liberal, Mormon, Jew, Gentile, White, Black, Red or Green. We the people have voted on the issue and it is a NO GO!!! I believe that polls after the fact are a waste of time and only get people stirred up. This is not the first time that this issue has come before the people in an election and it is voted down everytime! I will continue to vote NO for same sex marriage, not because of hate but because I believe that it is wrong.

[Zach]

Some comments here are a pretty great example of why democracy is shot in this country. Several people acknowledge they would vote for unconstitutional laws simply because they don't like the way the people those laws targetted spoke out after they were passed. It seems more and more like "we, the people," are more suited to voting for American Idol than American government.

[Elde]

Seems like a Bias poll. A couple of guys were asking people the other day to sign a petition in Beverly Hills the other day and you would probably see one out of 50 to stop and sign. The above article is just another way that the "Confused" are using propaganda to influence our views. Marriage is sacred between a man and a woman. Homosexual Marriage No. Homosexual rights as partners Yes. maybe instead of calling it marriage we can call it a "Joining" therefore us heterosexualls can continue to look at marriage as a clean sacred bond between a man and a woman.

[Sean S]

You idiots, Don't you know the laws in your own darn state?
To add something to your State Constitution you only need a simple magority.
To delete something you need a 2/3 magority.
So if your hoping to have a ballot prop to allow gay marriage, you will need a lot more than 51 percent....however, the polls before Prop 8 all claimed most people were for gay marraige....they were wrong.
It's not about hate and there is no such thing as homophobia...a phobia is a fear and no one "fears" homosexuals. Hate, put off by, repulsed but not feared.
It has ZERO to do with religion,other than that all religions point out the same very obvious thing...homosexuality is unnatural. Biology tells you the same thing.

[Southoc]

Why is this even an issue? We have much more urgent issues. Who cares is someone wants to get married?

[JimBob]

Sean S, before calling other people "idiots," please learn how to spell the word "majority." I know that it was not a typo because you misspelled it several times.

Also, you are wrong about needing 2/3 of a vote to delete something from the California Constitution. You only need 50.1%.

An amendment is an amendment is an amendment. An amendment can add or delete. The amendment that will be on the ballot in 2012 will simply change the wording put in by prop 8 to read that California will recognize marriages between two non-related consenting adults. It will only need 50.1% to pass and my prediction is that it will pass.

When you have 75% of people under 25 in favor of marriage equality for gays and 65% of people over 65 against marriage equality, every year that goes by means more pro-equality 17 year olds turning 18 and gaining the right to vote and more people over 65 dying, never to vote again. It's just a matter of time--and hopefully, for the sake of gay families in California and their children, that time will come in November 0f 2012.

[Pete the Fed]

Marriage is between one man and one woman.