PollingReport.com

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   Law and Civil Rights
         
Same-sex marriage, gay rights
         
Civil liberties, tort reform . . .

See also: Supreme Court | Crime | Race/Ethnicity | War on Terrorism

Polls listed chronologically.


Same-Sex Marriage, Gay Rights

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. Dec. 19-21, 2008. N=1,013 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Do you think marriages between gay and lesbian couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?"

.

Should Should Not Unsure    
% % %    

12/19-21/08

44 55 1    

6/26-29/08

44 53 3    

.

"Do you think marriages between gay and lesbian couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?" If yes: "Do you think gays and lesbians do or do not have a constitutional right to get married and have their marriage recognized by law as valid?"

.

Valid --
Constitutional
Right
Valid -- No
Constitutional
Right
Should Not
Be Recognized
As Valid
Unsure  
% % % %  

12/19-21/08

39 5 55 1  

.

"Do you think people who are openly gay or homosexual should or should not be allowed to serve in the U.S. military?"

.

Should Should Not Unsure    
% % %    

12/19-21/08

81 17 1    

5/4-6/07

79 18 3    

 

Newsweek Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Dec. 3-4, 2008. N=1,006 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.7.

.

"Now I have a few questions about the situation for gay men and women in this country and the issue of gay rights. Do you think there should or should NOT be [see below]?"

.

Should Should Not Unsure
% % %

.

"Legally-sanctioned gay and lesbian unions or partnerships"

12/3-4/08

55 36 9

.

"Legally-sanctioned gay and lesbian marriages"

12/3-4/08

39 55 6

.

"Adoption rights for gays and lesbians so they can legally adopt children"

12/3-4/08

53 39 8

.

"Inheritance rights for gay and lesbian domestic partners"

12/3-4/08

74 20 6

.

"Social Security benefits for gay and lesbian domestic partners"

12/3-4/08

67 27 6

.

"Health insurance and other employee benefits for gay and lesbian domestic partners"

12/3-4/08

73 23 4

.

"Hospital visitation rights for gay and lesbian domestic partners"

12/3-4/08

86 10 4

.

"Gays and lesbians serving openly in the military"

12/3-4/08

66 29 5

.

"Equal rights for gays and lesbians in terms of job opportunities"

12/3-4/08

87 10 3

.

"Equal rights for gays and lesbians in terms of housing"

12/3-4/08

82 13 5

.

"Thinking again about legal rights for gay and lesbian couples, which of the following comes CLOSEST to your position on this issue? Do you support FULL marriage rights for same-sex couples, OR support civil unions or partnerships for same-sex couples, BUT NOT full marriage rights, OR do you oppose ANY legal recognition for same-sex couples?"

.

Marriage
Rights
Civil Unions/
Partnerships
No Legal
Recognition
Unsure
% % % %

12/3-4/08

31 32 30 7

.

(If support full marriage rights on preceding question: "Even though you told me you favor full marriage rights for same-sex couples, I need to ask everyone the following question. . . .")
"Would you favor or oppose an amendment to the U.S. constitution that would BAN gay marriage IN ALL STATES?"

.

Favor Oppose Unsure
% % %

12/3-4/08

43 52 5

.

"Gay marriage can also be an issue at the state level. Suppose YOUR STATE held an election where you could vote for or against an amendment to the state constitution that would ban gay marriage. Would you be more likely to vote 'yes' in favor of OR 'no' against a ban on gay marriage in your state?"

.

Yes, Favor
Ban
No, Against
Ban
Unsure
% % %

12/3-4/08

45 49 6

.

"Now thinking about marriage more generally: Some people think of marriage mostly as a legal matter and others think of it mostly as a religious matter. Do you personally think of marriage mostly as a legal matter, or mostly as a religious matter?"

.

Mostly
Legal
Mostly
Religious
Both Equally
(vol.)
Unsure
% % % %

12/3-4/08

30 41 25 4

.

"How much, if at all, do your religious beliefs determine your views on the issue of gay marriage? Are your religious beliefs very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not at all important in determining your views on gay marriage?"

.

Very
Important
Somewhat
Important
Not Too
Important
Not at All
Important
Unsure
% % % % %

12/3-4/08

41 21 11 23 4

.

"Suppose a gay or lesbian couple are legally married and have a child through assisted reproductive technology. If the couple gets divorced, how do you think the law should deal with disputes over child custody? Should the gay partner who is NOT the child's biological parent have custody rights, such as visitation and a role in making decisions about the child's upbringing, or not?"

.

Should Have
Rights
Should Not
Have Rights
Unsure
% % %

12/3-4/08

63 19 18

 

Time Poll conducted by Abt SRBI. July 31-Aug. 4, 2008. N=808 likely voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Should gay and lesbian couples be allowed to marry, giving them full legal rights of married couples, or not?"

.

Should Should Not No Answer/
Unsure
% % %

7/31 - 8/4/08

47 47 7

6/18-25/08

42 51 7

.

"Do you favor or oppose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would ban same-sex couples from getting married?"

.

Favor Oppose No Answer/
Unsure
% % %

7/31 - 8/4/08

35 58 7

6/18-25/08

36 58 6

.

"What if a presidential candidate took a position on gay marriage that was different from your own? Would you still consider voting for him because of his position on other issues, or would you not vote for him under any circumstances?"

.

Still Consider Not Vote For No Answer/
Unsure
% % %

7/31 - 8/4/08

72 22 6

6/18-25/08

72 22 6

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. July 10-13, 2008. N=1,119 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3. Fieldwork by TNS.

.

"Do you think homosexuals who do NOT publicly disclose their sexual orientation should be allowed to serve in the military or not?"

.

Should Be
Allowed
Should
Not Be
Unsure  

%

%

%

 

7/10-13/08

78

18

5

 

1/01

75

22

3

 

5/93

63

35

2

 

.

"Do you think homosexuals who DO publicly disclose their sexual orientation should be allowed to serve in the military or not?"

.

Should Be
Allowed
Should
Not Be
Unsure  

%

%

%

 

7/10-13/08

75

22

3

 

1/01

62

35

3

 

5/93

44

55

2

 


 

Quinnipiac University Poll. July 8-13, 2008. N=1,783 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 2.3.

.

"In general, do you support or oppose same-sex marriage?"

.

Support Oppose Unsure
% % %

7/8-13/08

36 55 9

.

"Which would you prefer? Do you think same-sex couples should be allowed legally to marry, should be allowed legally to form civil unions but not marry, or should not be allowed to obtain legal recognition of their relationships?"

.

Legally
Marry
Form Civil
Unions
No Legal
Recognition
Unsure
% % % %

7/8-13/08

32 33 29 6

.

"Do you think states should give legal recognition to same-sex marriages performed in other states or not?"

.

Should Should Not Unsure
% % %

7/8-13/08

44 50 6

.

"Would you support or oppose a law in your state that would ban same-sex marriage?"

.

Support Oppose Unsure
% % %

7/8-13/08

45 49 6

.

"Would you support or oppose amending the United States Constitution to ban same-sex marriage?"

.

Support Oppose Unsure
% % %

7/8-13/08

38 56 6

11/13-19/06

43 53 4
12/7-12/04 43 53 4
7/18-22/04 39 55 6
3/16-22/04 41 51 8

 

Pew Research Center survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. June 18-29, 2008. N=2,004 adults nationwide. MoE ± 2.5.

.

"Do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally?"

.

Favor Oppose Unsure  

%

%

%

 

6/18-29/08

40

52

8

 

5/21-25/08

38

49

13

 


 

Newsweek Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. June 18-19, 2008. N=896 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 4 (for all registered voters).

.

"There has been much talk recently about whether states should give gay and lesbian couples the legal right to marry. Which of the following comes CLOSEST to your position on this issue? Do you support FULL marriage rights for same-sex couples, O