Americans are sharply divided over New York’s recent legalization of gay marriage, according to a new poll on Friday that revealed a huge generation gap in how same sex nuptials are viewed.
The Washington Post-ABC News national survey found that voters are divided 50-46 on whether the new law is a positive or negative development.
Among those under 30, supporters outnumber those who view the law unfavorably by a 2-1 margin. But among seniors, 6 in 10 say the law is bad news.
The Washington Post-ABC News national survey found that voters are divided 50-46 on whether the new law is a positive or negative development.
Among those under 30, supporters outnumber those who view the law unfavorably by a 2-1 margin. But among seniors, 6 in 10 say the law is bad news.
When broken down along religious lines, Friday’s poll presents a more complicated picture of Americans’ feelings on same-sex marriage.
Within the white Protestant community there exists a strong divide between the evangelical and non-evangelical branches of the religion. While evangelicals view the law new negatively by a 75-21 margin, non-evangelicals support the measure by a 63-24 margin.
Catholics are broadly supportive of the measure, with nearly 60 percent saying they view the new law favorably, although support drops off among those who attend church less frequently.
Information about Jews’ attitudes wasn’t included in the poll.
According to Friday’s poll, there is also a strong partisan divide regarding the measure. Nearly three quarters of liberal Democrats view the new law positively, while conservative Republicans see gay marriage in New York negatively by a 71-26 margin.
Moderates and independents back the law by a 54-41 margin.
Within the Republican party, opinions on the new law are split between those who identify with the Tea Party and more moderate Republicans. While 7 in 10 Tea Partiers say they oppose New York’s gay marriage law, less than half of non-Tea Party Republicans, 45 percent, say they view it in a negative light.
Support for same-sex marriage has generally been growing over the past decade. According to the Pew Research Center, 57 percent of Americans opposed same-sex marriage in 2001. A decade later, Pew reported that Americans were closely split on the issue, 46-45 percent, between those who oppose and support.
The approval of same-sex marriage in New York was seen by gay rights activists as a historic victory and made the state the sixth and largest to allow gays and lesbians to marry.
Within the white Protestant community there exists a strong divide between the evangelical and non-evangelical branches of the religion. While evangelicals view the law new negatively by a 75-21 margin, non-evangelicals support the measure by a 63-24 margin.
Catholics are broadly supportive of the measure, with nearly 60 percent saying they view the new law favorably, although support drops off among those who attend church less frequently.
Information about Jews’ attitudes wasn’t included in the poll.
According to Friday’s poll, there is also a strong partisan divide regarding the measure. Nearly three quarters of liberal Democrats view the new law positively, while conservative Republicans see gay marriage in New York negatively by a 71-26 margin.
Moderates and independents back the law by a 54-41 margin.
Within the Republican party, opinions on the new law are split between those who identify with the Tea Party and more moderate Republicans. While 7 in 10 Tea Partiers say they oppose New York’s gay marriage law, less than half of non-Tea Party Republicans, 45 percent, say they view it in a negative light.
Support for same-sex marriage has generally been growing over the past decade. According to the Pew Research Center, 57 percent of Americans opposed same-sex marriage in 2001. A decade later, Pew reported that Americans were closely split on the issue, 46-45 percent, between those who oppose and support.
The approval of same-sex marriage in New York was seen by gay rights activists as a historic victory and made the state the sixth and largest to allow gays and lesbians to marry.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/60226.html#ixzz1TXXJBVnS
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