WASHINGTON — A recent Gallup study reveals a new high in the percentage of Americans who think gay “marriage” should be recognized by law — 64 percent.
While it’s just a 3 percent increase from the 2016 rating, it continues the generally steady rise since Gallup’s trend began in 1996, according to the annual Values and Beliefs poll.
The new high comes nearly two years after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could not prohibit same-sex “marriage.” Since Gallup first polled on the issue, support for gay “marriage” has more than doubled, rising 37 percent in 21 years.
Protestants’ support for same-sex “marriage” also has grown to where the majority of Protestants are in favor of it for the first time. Today Protestants are about twice as likely to support gay “marriage” as they were in 1996 (55 percent versus 27 percent), according to the recent poll.
Gallup also reported an increase in support along party lines. While it’s no surprise that more than 7 in 10 independents and Democrats support same-sex “marriage,” the number of Republicans who support it also has hit a new high (47 percent) since 1996, nearly tripling.
Although a third of Americans are still opposed to same-sex “marriage” support has gradually increased over the past two decades, reaching majority support with new groups, as it did with senior citizens in 2016 and Protestants this year. (TAB)
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