gay rights

Seven in 10 Americans say they would favor hate crime laws to protect gays and lesbians

Jenny Choi — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:20:50 -0400

Support for giving gay couples the same legal rights as married couples varies depending on question wording and three in 10...

Jenny Choi — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:08:58 -0400

Four in 10 Americans say they oppose any legal recognition of gay couples, but nearly six in 10 say it...

Jenny Choi — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:55:32 -0400

The number of Americans saying homosexual relations should be legal fluctuates

Jenny Choi — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:50:33 -0400

Majorities say gay marriage should not be an important issue in the 2004 elections

Jenny Choi — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:05:35 -0400

More than half of Americans say allowing gay marriages would degrade the institution of marriage, but just as many say...

Jenny Choi — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:03:12 -0400

Acceptance of homosexuality has grown significantly

Jenny Choi — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:46:26 -0400

Americans are divided on whether homosexuality should be accepted or discouraged by society

Jenny Choi — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:44:14 -0400

Ambivalence and Mixed Messages

Jenny Choi — Tue, 20 May 2008 14:59:01 -0400

A number of findings suggest that many Americans feel some tension between their desire to be fair to those who are different from themselves and a lingering unease with homosexuality itself. Survey questions about whether American society should accept homosexuality often draw different responses depending on the examples mentioned. This is generally an indication of public ambivalence. Surveys show that acceptance of gays and lesbians has risen significantly, and currently about half of Americans say homosexuality should be an acceptable lifestyle. Questions that raise the issue of fair treatment typically draw much higher levels of public support. For instance, substantial majorities of Americans say they support equal protection for homosexuals against hate crimes and equal rights in terms of housing and jobs. But while there is near-universal support for equal hiring in sales jobs and other occupations, smaller majorities support gays as teachers and clergy. Similarly, surveys show that slight majorities say a gay person could be a good role model and as good a parent as anyone, yet they are divided on whether they would allow a homosexual to baby-sit their child and half say they oppose allowing gay couples to adopt.

Marriage by Another Name?

Jenny Choi — Tue, 20 May 2008 14:58:03 -0400

A majority of Americans oppose same-sex marriage, but the word "marriage" makes a big difference in survey results. For example, survey questions that suggest giving gay couples joint inheritance or health benefits (without using the word marriage) show majorities in favor. And as many as half say they would support civil unions. Question wording can change results in other ways as well. Six in 10 people tell pollsters they oppose gay marriage (half of them say they “strongly oppose” it) and roughly as many say gay marriage would violate their religious beliefs. Yet six in 10 also say legal recognition is inevitable and, when given the option, nearly one-third says it doesn’t matter to them either way. Results like these suggest that many people are still wrestling with the implications of same-sex marriage, so surveys on this issue should be interpreted cautiously.

Disapproval vs. Punishment

Jenny Choi — Tue, 20 May 2008 14:56:37 -0400

On some questions of personal conduct, such as abortion and adultery, surveys show that significant numbers of Americans want these actions to be illegal. However, that doesn't necessarily mean the public wants people to be arrested. These Americans may be willing to tolerate these activities as unfortunate facts of life, but they also fear that making something "legal" sends a message that it is also acceptable. For this group, making something "illegal" sends a strong statement of social disapproval. Those who want homosexuality to be "illegal" follow precisely this pattern. As one survey shows, roughly a third of Americans say homosexuality should be illegal, but most of these people change their minds when asked whether consenting adults engaging in homosexual activities in private should be prosecuted for a crime. [The U.S. Supreme Court struck down laws against sodomy in 2003.] Although the numbers fluctuate, people are currently less likely to say homosexual relations should be illegal. It is also significant that most people, despite public controversy, don’t seem to want strong government action. Strong majorities say gay marriage should not be an important issue in the 2004 elections. And more than half of Americans say allowing gay marriage would demean the institution of marriage, but just as many say the government should not promote traditional marriages. See also our Red Flags on Abortion

Gay Marriage Ban Struck Down In California, But Fight's Not Over Yet

Francie Grace — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

California's Supreme Court has struck down as unconstitutional a ban on same-sex marriage and in a 4-3 ruling, also said the right to raise children within a family does not depend upon sexual orientation. The ruling takes effect in 30 days and has already sparked a wedding announcement by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, who plans to marry her longtime partner, actress Portia de Rossi.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has twice vetoed gay marriage bills, says he respects the court's ruling and as governor will uphold its decision. The fight isn't over yet – supporters of a referendum to define marriage as only between opposite sex individuals tell the New York Times they have 1.2 million petition signatures to get the measure on the ballot in November.

Public Agenda analysis of opinion on this subject shows both a desire by many Americans to be fair to those who differ from the majority, and, a lingering unease with homosexuality itself. Six in ten Americans say they oppose gay marriage and just as many say it would go against their religious beliefs. But survey results show a key marker of public uncertainty on an issue: results change when a survey question is worded differently. For example, support for same-sex unions increases when the word "marriage" is not used, with four in ten saying they oppose any legal recognition of gay couples but nearly six in ten saying it is inevitable. Results like these suggest that many Americans are still wrestling with the implications of same-sex marriage.

Many who say homosexual relations should be illegal change their minds when told it could mean that consenting adults...

Peiting Chen — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:00:58 -0400

More than half of Americans say gay spouses should receive benefits like inheritance rights, health insurance and Social...

Peiting Chen — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:48:31 -0400

Americans are evenly divided on whether they would support civil unions

Peiting Chen — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:44:08 -0400

Six in 10 Americans say they oppose gay marriage and just as many say it would go against their religious beliefs

Peiting Chen — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:35:44 -0400

Six in 10 people say a gay person can be a good role model for a child, but they are divided on whether they would permit...

Peiting Chen — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:30:30 -0400

Slightly more than half of Americans say gay couples can be as good parents as heterosexual couples, but half say they oppose...

Peiting Chen — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:24:43 -0400

Large majorities of Americans say gays should be hired in sales, as doctors, in the armed forces and as a member of...

Peiting Chen — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:20:09 -0400

Most Americans say homosexuals should have equal employment and housing rights

Peiting Chen — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:59:30 -0400