Polling Finds Growing Support for the Freedom to Marry

Last Updated May 2011

Public opinion research clearly demonstrates that a growing majority supports the freedom to marry. Likewise, support continues to rise in every state, demographic and community. This resource tracks marriage polling at the federal, national, and state level. 

NATIONAL

The sixth national poll in the last year now confirms a majority of Americans support the freedom to marry.  Gallup released a poll showing 53% of Americans support marriage for same-sex couples, with a 9% jump in overall support since last year. [Gallup Poll, May 2011]

The Public Religion Research Institute released a poll finding a majority (51%) of Americans favor ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. [Public Religion Research Institute, May 2011]

CNN released a poll showing 51% of Americans agree with ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. [CNN Poll, April 2011]

A Washington Post-ABC News poll confirmed that a majority of Americans support marriage for same-sex couples.  At 53%, the new poll reflects the highest levels of support to date, and growth in nearly every segment of the population. [Washington Post/ABC News, March 2011]

AP released a 2010 AP/National Constitution Center poll showing that a majority of Americans support the freedom to marry. Fifty-two percent of Americans say the government should end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. [AP/NCC Poll, August 2010]

CNN released the first national poll to show that a majority of Americans support the freedom to marry. In a split sample the poll asked, "Do you think gays and lesbians should have a constitutional right to get married and have their marriage recognized by law as valid?" 52% of respondents replied "Yes." 46% replied "No." 2% had "No Opinion." [CNN Poll, August 2010]

In its survey of marriage polls since 1988, FiveThirtyEight has found an accelerating shift in support for the freedom to marry with opponents now clearly in a minority. Their analysis shows a 4-point gain in support of marriage for same-sex couples in each of the last two years. In the past, support for marriage grew at a rate of 1 to 2 points per year. [FiveThirtyEight, April 2011]

Polling consistently shows strong majority support for the freedom to marry among young people while older generations also show majority support. A recent Public Religion Research Institute Poll found that 61% of those 18-34 support marriage for same-sex couples, while so do nearly 6 in 10 (57%) of Americans between 35-49. [Public Religion Research Institute, May 2011]

Solid majorities of both Catholic (56%) and white mainline Protestants (55%) favor ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. Almost 8 in 10 Americans who do not have a religious affiliation support the freedom to marry. [Public Religion Research Institute, May 2011]

STATE LEVEL

Through its analysis of polling data, including CNN’s latest poll, The New York Times determined majority support for marriage in 22 states. [New York Times, August 2010]

A super-majority (58%) of New York voters support the freedom to marry. The voter super-majority includes 61 percent of independent voters, 58 percent of upstate voters, 60 percent of women, and 56 percent of men. [Siena Research Institute, April 2011]

A statewide Gonzales Research poll found that a majority (51%) of Maryland residents support the freedom to marry. [Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies, January 2011]

A majority (59%) of Rhode Island voters support the freedom to marry. The voter majority includes 57 percent of Catholics, 58 percent of independent voters, 56 percent of women over 50, and 64 percent of parents. [Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, July 2010]

A California Field poll of registered voters found 51 percent of Californians support the freedom to marry, with 42 percent opposed. Democrats and independents are supportive, younger voters are strongly supportive, and a narrow majority of Californian Catholics support marriage equality. [Field Poll, July 2010]

58 percent of Californians believe it is appropriate to apply the Golden Rule to marriage for same-sex couples. 57% of Latino Catholics say they would vote for the freedom to marry. [Public Religion Research Institute, July 2010]

DOMA/ELECTABILITY

A Quinnipiac Poll found that 54 percent of voters believe the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (law denying federal spousal benefits to same-sex partners) should be repealed. [Quinnipiac University Poll, April 2009]

A Time Magazine poll found that 72 percent of voters would still consider voting for a presidential candidate, even if the candidate took a position on the freedom to marry that was different from the voter’s opinion. [Time Magazine, June 2008]

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found the potential effects on the federal budget of recognizing same-sex marriages are numerous. If the freedom to marry existed in all 50 states and was recognized by the federal government, the CBO estimates government could have saved nearly $1 billion per year between 2004 and 2014. [Congressional Budget Office, October 2004]