Polling Data and the Marriage Equality Movement

Ideally, polling data should not be used to address civil rights issues, but Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) recognizes that public opinion has always had some impact on the political forces that further civil rights for various groups of people over time. As shown below, there is growing, measurable support for LGBTIQ relationship equality in the United States and around the world. The following polling data provides insight into how polls and social change interrelate in this, and other, historical struggles to end discrimination.

Civil rights victories have not traditionally been extended by "votes of the people." In fact, in most instances of civil right victories in the courts, the majority of people did not support the expansion at that time. Fundamental Constitutional rights have traditionally been extended and protected by the courts, rather than elected officials, further ensuring that all citizens are provided due process and equal protection under the law regardless of the prejudice of the day.

Here is an interesting article from the Spring of 2012 addressing the subject of polling results versus the way people vote when it comes to this civil rights issue -- 27 May 2012 Gay Marriage Polls Not Yet Reflected In Votes.

However, time is clearly on our side. Support for legal protections, including marriage equality, for same-sex couples is growing everyday. Now read this article from the Autumn of 2012, a scant 4 months later -- 2012-09-24 Public Opinion Snapshot: Are We Past the Tipping Point on Support for Marriage Equality?

As marriage equality becomes a reality -- positive polling data follows: In locations where same-sex couples have the freedom to marry, polls show there is an increase in acceptance and approval of extending this right. In fact, in those states who have extended marriage and marriage-like relationship protections, there is now a majority of people who support this right whereas prior to these rights being provided, the majority of people were not in favor, showing an apprehension to social change before it happens, then an acceptance after that change becomes reality. This same trend occurred in other instances of social change in the past. In fact, it is exactly those changes that most Americans believe are core to our shared values and ideals today.

POLLING

6 May 2013 Pew Research Center: Seven in 10 Young Adults Favor Same-Sex Marriage

23 April 2013 Public Policy Polling: Colorado favors gay marriage

26 March 2013 CBS News Poll: 53% of Americans support same-sex marriage

13 March 2013 Public Policy Polling: Supprt for gay marriage in Pennsylvania on the rise

10 October 2012 New poll reveals 40% approval for same-sex marriage among Maryland voters (Baltimore Sun)

8 October 2012 Minnesota supports gay marriage - Public Policy Polling

20 September 2012 Maine narrowly favors gay marriage legalization - Public Policy Polling

19-23 September 2012 Washington Post Polls in Fla., Ohio and Va. see same-sex marriage support

23 August 2012 Logo TV Presidential Election Poll: LGBT Issues See Historic Political Shift

2 August 2012 Overwhelming Support for Equality is Clear in Connecticut Miscellany Poll by Public Policy Polling

1 August 2012 Maryland Marriage Equality Poll from Hart Research Associates Shows Increased Support From African-American Voters

31 July 2012 Two-Thirds of Democrats Now Support Gay Marriage from the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

11 July 2012 Portland Press Herald Poll: 57 percent in Maine would back same-sex marriage

9 July 2011 Public Opinion on Gay Marriage in Utah  

5 July 2012 Public Policy Poll Finds Oregon Divided on Gay Marriage, Narrowly Favoring Legal Gay Marriage

18 June 2012 WBJR 2012 Poll Finds Majority of Maine Voters Support Porposed Marriage Equality Law

7 June 2012 Quinnipiac University Poll Finds Gay Marriage Has Little Impact On Presidential Race

1 June 2012 Public Policy Poll Shows African American Voters in Missouri Supporting Marriage Equality 50-31%

31 May 2012 Public Policy Survey Shows Support for gay marriage climbing in Michigan

24 May 2012 Public Policy Polling survey in Maryland finds a significant increase in support for same-sex marriage among African American voters

23 May 2012 People of Color More Likely to Support Gay Marriage Than Whites (same poll as below)

22 May 2012 Gay marriage opposition hits new low, a Wall Street Journal/ABC News poll

18 April 2012 A GENERATION IN TRANSITION Religion, Values, and Politics among College-­Age Millennials Findings from the 2012 Millennial Values Survey

17 April 2012 With Voters Focused on Economy, Obama Lead Narrows, Social Issues [including marriage equality] Rank as Lowest Priorities

29 March 2012 North Carolina Marriage Amendment – “Marriage amendment is leading by a wide margin right now,”  “But there’s a pretty dramatic shift in the numbers once voters become more aware about how far reaching it is.”

7 March 2012 It looks like Maine voters will reverse their 2009 decision and legalize gay marriage in the state this fall (2012)

3 March 2012 NBC News/Wall Street Journal Survey Includes Marriage Equality Support Leads 49% to 40%

1 March 2012 New Jersey Same-Sex Marriage Support At New High, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Back Holding Referendum More Than 2-1

29 February 2012 Ron Buckmire Analyzes New Field Poll on Marriage Equality

29 February 2012 Field Poll Shows Dramatic Increase in Support for Same-Sex Marriage in California

15 February 2012 Des Moines Register Poll Shows Support in Iowa for Marriage Equality at 56%

STUDIES, ANALYSES & REPORTS

April 2013 Public Support for Marriage for Same-sex Couples by State from the Williams Institute

October 2012 The Big Shift: Changing Views on Marriage for Gay Couples from Third Way

September 2012 Religious Groups and Political Party Identification - slide show from the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

29 August 2012 from The New Civil Rights Movement - BOMBSHELL: Corruption Uncovered In Regnerus Anti-Gay Study Scandal

3 August 2012 Marriage Equality In the South: An Analysis and a Strategy

11 June 2012 from the Third Way Social Policy & Politics Program - The State of Relationship Recognition in 2012

June 2012 from the Williams Institute - Evidence of Persistent and Pervasive Workplace Discrimination Against LGBT People: The Need for Federal Legislation Prohibiting Discrimination and Providing for Equal Employment Benefits

May 2012 from the Williams Institute -- Recent EEOC Ruling Likely Prohibits Federal Contractors from Gender Identity or Expression Discrimination

February 2012 Marriage (In)equality: The Perspectives of Adolescents and Emerging Adults With Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Parents

6 February 2012 from the Williams Institute -- Children and Families Impacted and Fiscal Impact of Virginia HB 189/SB 349

January 2012 from the Williams Institute -- The Economic Impact of Extending Marriage to Same-Sex Couples in Washington State

2011 The Experiences of Legally Married Same-Sex Couples in California -- Erin Falvey Dissertation, San Diego, CA

December 2011 from the Williams Institute -- Family Formation and Raising Children Among Same-Sex Couples

November 2011 from the Williams Institute -- Patterns of Relationship Recognition by Same-Sex Couples in the United States

November 2011 from the Williams Institute -- Same-sex Couples and Immigration in the United States

November 2011 Separate and Not Equal: Bi-National Same–Sex Couples

ARTICLES

10 October 2012 Black voices for marriage equality in Maryland (Washington Post)

10 October 2012 New poll: 55% of Mainers support gay marriage (Portland Press Herald)

9 October 2012 Polls in Fla., Ohio and Va. see same-sex marriage support (Washington Post)

9 October 2012 Gay Marriage To Be Voted On In Four States (Reuters via Huff Post Politics)

8 October 2012 WTOP Beltway Poll: Md. supports gay marriage, divided on gambling (WTOP 103.5FM)

2 October 2012 Poll Shows Support for Marriage Equality in Rhode Island (The Advocate)

1 October 2012 Poll Finds Support Surging for Maryland Marriage Equality Measure (The Advocate)

30 September 2012 The referendum proposal to legalize same-sex marriage in Maine leads 57 percent to 36 percent in the poll, with 7 percent saying they are undecided. (Morning Sentinel)

23 August 2012 What's next for gay marriage? (Salon.com)

2 August 2012 Maryland Marriage Equality Poll Shows Increased Support From African-American Voters (Huff Post Politics)

19 July 2012 Recent Poll Results Show Progress for Marriage Equality (Boston Globe online article)

11 July 2012 Parenting Study Reaches the Courts -- The debunked study that accused same-sex parents of being inferior to their straight counterparts is now being wielded by proponents of DOMA in courts

10 July 2012 New Poll Misrepresents Attitudes On Gay Marriage In Utah

9 July 2012 Latino Support For Gay Marriage Outpaces General Population

27 May 2012 from NPR -- Polls Show Obama's Support For Gay Marriage Influencing Blacks

23 January 2012 from the Huffington Post -- Playing the Numbers Game: Foes of Marriage Equality Fudge the Facts Again

11 August 2011 So Much for Undermining Marriage: Fewest Divorces in Marriage-Equality States