Public opinion of same-sex marriage in the United States

Degree of public support for same-sex marriage by state in 2023:[1]
   80–81%
   70–79%
   60–69%
   50–59%
   49% (plurality support)

Public opinion of same-sex marriage in the United States has significantly changed since the 1990s,[2] and an overwhelming majority of Americans now favor same-sex marriage.[3]

Approval of same-sex marriage is higher in younger generations;[4] among 18–34 year olds, support is near-universal.[5] From 1988 to 2009, support for recognized same-sex marriage increased between 1% and 1.5% per year, and accelerated thereafter,[6] rising above 50% in Pew Research Center polling for the first time in 2011.[7] A 2022 Public Religion Research Institute poll found that a majority of people in every state support same-sex marriage except in Mississippi, where there is plurality support.[8]

A 2023 New York Times/Siena poll found that 70% of Americans support same-sex marriage and 22% oppose it.[9] Garretson (2018) writes: "The transformation of America's response to homosexuality has been — and continues to be — one of the most rapid and sustained shifts in mass attitudes since the start of public polling."[2]

  1. ^ "Views on LGBTQ Rights in All 50 States: Findings from PRRI's 2023 American Values Atlas". prri.org. March 12, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Garretson, Jeremiah (2018). "A Transformed Society: LGBT Rights in the United States". The Path to Gay Rights: How Activism and Coming Out Changed Public Opinion. New York University Press. ISBN 9781479850075. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a dramatic wave began to form in the waters of public opinion: American attitudes involving homosexuality began to change... The transformation of America's response to homosexuality has been — and continues to be — one of the most rapid and sustained shifts in mass attitudes since the start of public polling.
  3. ^ "Dueling Realities: Amid Multiple Crises, Trump and Biden Supporters See Different Priorities and Futures for the Nation". PRRI. October 19, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020. The vast majority of Americans (70%) favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally, compared to 28% of Americans who oppose it. Majorities of Democrats (80%) and independents (76%), as well as half of Republicans (50%), support same-sex marriage.
  4. ^ Lopez, German (June 26, 2015). "Same-sex marriage in the US, explained". Vox. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  5. ^ Staff. "GSS Data Explorer: "Homosexuals should have right to marry?" (18-34)". General Social Survey. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  6. ^ "Opinion on Same-Sex Marriage Appears to Shift at Accelerated Pace". FiveThirtyEight. May 19, 2016.
  7. ^ "Changing Attitudes on Gay Marriage". Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. July 29, 2015. Archived from the original on November 27, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  8. ^ Staff (March 23, 2023). "More Acceptance but Growing Polarization on LGBTQ Rights: Findings From the 2022 American Values Atlas". Public Religion Research Institute. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  9. ^ Staff (August 1, 2023). "Cross-Tabs: July 2023 Times/Siena Poll of the 2024 Race and National Issues". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 2, 2023.

© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search