In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,006 American adults, 44 per cent of respondents think same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry.

One-in-five respondents (21%) want same-sex couples to form civil unions but not marry, while one-in-four (26%) would not offer any kind of legal recognition to same-sex couples.

Support for gay and lesbian marriage using this question is highest among respondents aged 18-to-34 (58%), Democrats (also 58%) and Independents (49%).

Americans who believe homosexuality is “something people choose to be” are more likely to reject any kind of legal recognition for same-sex couples (48%). Conversely, more than two thirds of those who believe homosexuality is something “people are born with” (69%) voice support for same-sex marriage.

A second question offered only two choices to respondents. Half of Americans (50%) would prefer for same-sex couples to be allowed to legally marry, while 42 per cent disagree with this idea.

Support for same-sex marriage using the second question reaches 64 per cent among respondents aged 18-to-34, as well as a plurality of those aged 35-to-54 (48% to 44%). A majority of Americans aged 55 and over (52%) rejects this notion.

Once again, majorities of Democrats (65%) and Independents (55%) voiced support for same-sex marriage, compared to only 27 per cent of Republicans.

While three-in-four Americans who believe homosexuality is something “people are born with” (76%) support same-sex marriage, almost two thirds who regard homosexuality as “a choice” (64%) disagree.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From February 11 and February 12, 2013, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,006 American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of the United States. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 2,004 British adults, 44 per cent of respondents think same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry, while one third (34%) would allow them to form civil partnerships, but not marry.

An additional 14 per cent of Britons think same-sex couples should have no kind of legal recognition.

In a follow-up question with only two options, 52 per cent of respondents say they would allow same-sex couples to legally marry, while 38 per cent disagree with this idea.

The highest level of support for same-sex marriage in Britain comes from respondents aged 18-to-34 (65%), respondents aged 35-to-54 (56%), as well as Liberal Democrat voters (60%) and Labour voters (51%) in the last General Election.

Conversely, respondents aged 55 and over (53%) and Conservative voters (53%) believe same-sex couples should not be allowed to legally marry.

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Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From January 24 to January 25, 2013, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 2,004 randomly selected British adults who are Springboard UK panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 2.2%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region data to ensure samples representative of the entire adult population of Great Britain. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

The online survey of representative samples in the three countries asked respondents whether they personally believe 21 issues are “morally acceptable” or “morally wrong.” Respondents in the United States are less likely to see 11 of the issues tested as morally acceptable:

- Contraception (79%, compared to 91% in both Canada and Britain).
- Divorce (65% in the U.S., compared with 80% in Canada and 79% in Britain).
- Sexual relations between an unmarried man and woman (59% in the U.S., compared to 83% in Canada and 82% in Britain).
- Having a baby outside of marriage (53% in U.S., compared to 78% in Canada and 74% in Britain).
- Medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos (52%, compared to 65% in Canada and 56% in Britain).
- Sexual relations between two people of the same sex (40%, compared to 64% in Canada and 58% in Britain).
- Abortion (36%, compared to 60% in Canada and 54% Britain).
- Doctor-assisted suicide (35% in the U.S., compared to 65% in Canada and 61% in Britain).
- Pornography (32%, compared to 42% in Canada and 40% in Britain).
- Prostitution (23%, compared to 41% in Canada and 34% in Britain).
- Suicide (13%, compared to 22% in Canada and 29% in Britain).

Britons are less likely to find four issues as morally acceptable than their North American counterparts:

- Gambling (60%, compared to 63% in the U.S. and 70% in Canada).
- The death penalty (50%, compared to 58% in the U.S. and 53% in Canada).
- Medical testing on animals (29%, compared to 31% in the U.S. and 38% in Canada).
- Buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur (21%, compared to 42% in the U.S. and 50% in Canada).

Less than three-in-ten respondents in all countries believe cloning animals (CAN 26%, USA 23%, BRI 20%) and using illegal drugs (CAN 24%, USA 17%, BRI 16%) are morally acceptable, and less than one-in-six respondents feel the same way about married men and/or women having an affair, polygamy, cloning humans and paedophilia.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Full Methodology Details

The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/-2.2% for Great Britain and +/-3.1% for Canada and the United States. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of each country.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 2,005 British adults, 46 per cent of respondents (+3 since a similar survey conducted in January) think same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry.

A third of Britons (33%) would allow same-sex couples to form civil partnerships, but not marry, while only 14 per cent believe same-sex couples should not have any kind of legal recognition

Several U.S. states have held referendums on the definition of marriage. If a referendum with only two choices were to take place in the UK, respondents would be evenly divided. While 43 per cent of Britons would define marriage as between a man and a woman, a further 43 per cent would opt to define marriage as between two people.

Half of respondents (50%) say they have close friends or relatives who are openly gay or lesbian. One-in-four Britons (25%) believe people choose to be gay, while more than half (53%) think they are born gay.

Respondents aged 18-to-34 offer the highest level of support for legal same-sex marriage (63%, compared to 49% for those aged 35-to-54 and 30% for those over the age of 55). Younger Britons would also clearly vote to define marriage as between two people (57%) if a U.S.-style referendum were to take place in the UK.

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Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From August 22 to August 23, 2012, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 2,005 randomly selected British adults who are Springboard UK panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 2.2%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region data to ensure samples representative of the entire adult population of Great Britain. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

Angus Reid Public Opinion has been tracking the views of Americans on this issue for the past three and a half years, and the shifts show that Obama’s “evolution” may be shared by many U.S. citizens. In August 2009, only one third of Americans supported same-sex marriage, and 36 per cent rejected any legal recognition for gay and lesbian couples. This year, support for same-sex marriage is above the 40 per cent mark, and the proportion of Americans who would not recognize gay and lesbian couples at all has dropped below 30 per cent.

In an election year, Obama’s pronouncement has been deemed controversial. Still, the two groups that need to cast ballots in November to ensure a second term for the incumbent president will not be affected. The views of Democrats and Independents on this issue are practically identical, with 50 per cent and 49 per cent of respondents respectively voicing support for allowing same-sex couples to legally marry. Only 22 per cent of Democrats and Independents believe that there should be no legal recognition for same-sex couples.

Republicans are decidedly more strident in their views. While only one-in-four (25%) support same-sex marriage, a slightly higher proportion (28%) is more content with the concept of civil unions that stop short of being marriages.

The key indicator is that two-in-five GOP supporters (39%) would not allow same-sex couples to have any legal recognition. This level of rejection is particularly high, especially when contrasted with the views of other like-minded voters in Britain and Canada. Only 22 per cent of Conservative Party voters in Britain—and 21 per cent of Conservative Party voters in Canada—would prefer it if same-sex couples were not legally recognized.

GOP supporters will definitely be riled up by Obama’s evolution. Seven-in-ten Republicans say they would vote to define marriage as “between a man and a woman” in a referendum, an opportunity the residents of North Carolina had just this week. Also, practically half of Republicans (46%) think homosexuality is “something people choose to be”—a view shared by just 29 per cent of Democrats and Independents. In addition, 40 per cent of Republicans think it is “definitely” or “probably” possible to convert gays and lesbians into heterosexuals through prayer.

On the political front, the pronouncement will solidify support for Obama from the LGBT community, which had already enjoyed a victory in the repeal of the controversial “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy for the military (which was supported by 59% of Americans in September 2010). Many of these voters were probably already thinking of supporting Obama. If anything, the situation will be tougher for prospective Republican nominee Mitt Romney, who may now be forced to choose a more conservative running mate to appeal to the base

In the online survey of representative national samples in four countries, half of Australians (49%) believe same-sex couples in their country should be allowed to legally marry.

In Britain and the United States, smaller proportions of respondents (43% and 42% respectively) agree with this idea.

In Canada, where same-sex marriage has been legal since 2005, 59 per cent of respondents believe same-sex couples should continue to be allowed to legally marry.

Americans are more likely to believe that same-sex couples should not have any kind of legal recognition (27%, compared to 15% in Britain and 14% in both Australia and Canada).

Several American states have held referendums on the definition of marriage. If a referendum took place in Australia, a majority of respondents (52%) would vote to define marriage as between two people, while 43 per cent would define marriage as between a man and a woman. Britons are evenly split on this question, while a plurality of Americans would vote to keep the current definition of marriage.

A majority of Canadians (59%) and Australians (53%)—and half of Britons (49%)—believe that people are born gay. Only 40 per cent of Americans agree with this notion, while one third (34%) believe people choose to be gay. In the four countries, at least half of respondents acknowledge that they have close friends or relatives who are openly gay or lesbian (Australia 65%, Canada 62%, United States 56%, Britain 51%).

Gender and Age Divide

Female respondents in Australia (59%), Britain (50%) and the United States (45%) are more likely to call for a change in existing marriage legislation than their male counterparts. In Canada, 64 per cent of women think same-sex marriage should continue to be allowed.

Majorities of respondents aged 18-to-34 in the four countries are also more likely support same-sex marriage, with Canada at 71 per cent, Australia at 62 per cent, Britain at 56 per cent, and the United States at 55 per cent. Conversely, respondents over the age of 55 are less likely to support same-sex marriage (48% in Canada, 35% in Australia, 34% in the United States, and 30% in Britain).

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among:

The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1% for Canada and the United States, +/-2.5% for Australia, and +/-2.2% for Great Britain. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of each country.
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In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,007 American adults, 46 per cent of respondents believe same-sex couples in the United States should be allowed to legally marry, up 10 points since last year.

About one-in-five respondents (22%) think same-sex couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not marry, while 23 per cent of Americans believe there should be no legal recognition for same-sex couples.

Respondents from Generation Y (68%), Generation X (48%), and Americans who report having gay or lesbian friends or relatives (59%) are more likely to support same-sex marriage than members of other groups.

If a referendum on the definition of marriage took place tomorrow in their state, 47 per cent of respondents would vote to define marriage as between a man and a woman, while 45 per cent would define marriage as between two people. One year ago, there was an 18-point gap between these two options.

There is also some fluctuation in the question about homosexuality. Two-in-five respondents (40%, +3) believe people are born gay, while just over one third (36%, -8) think people choose to be gay.

Some churches have promoted conferences that pledge to convert gays and lesbians into heterosexuals through prayer. Only one-in-four Americans (25%) believe this is possible, while a sizeable majority (62%) deems this impossible. Three-in-ten respondents who have no gay or lesbian friends or relatives (30%)—as well as two-in-five Republicans (40%)—believe gays and lesbians can be converted into heterosexuals through prayer.

Analysis

Since the survey conducted by Angus Reid Public Opinion on this same topic a year ago, support for same-sex marriage in the United States has clearly risen, and is now on the verge of reaching 50 per cent. In another sweeping change, there is now a split in the question about the definition of marriage, which last year was dominated by the group that would limit it as between a man and a woman.

The notion of praying for the purported conversion of gays and lesbians is rejected by a large majority of respondents, but appears to be more popular among Republicans and Americans who have no homosexual friends or relatives.

Overall, the views expressed in this survey are marked by generational lines. Respondents born before 1946 and Baby Boomers are definitely not as welcoming to same-sex marriage as the members of Generation X and Generation Y. In fact, only one-in-four respondents born after 1979 would define marriage as between a man and a woman.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From July 20 to July 21, 2011, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,007 randomly selected American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region data to ensure samples representative of the entire adult population of the United States. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 2,004 British adults, 43 per cent of respondents believe same-sex couples in the UK should be allowed to legally marry. One third of respondents (34%) think same-sex couples should be allowed to form civil partnerships, but not marry, while 15 per cent of Britons would grant no legal recognition to same-sex couples.

There is a marked generational gap, with respondents born from 1980 to 1995 (57%) and those born from 1965 to 1979 (48%) voicing support for same-sex marriage, compared with 40 per cent of those born from 1946 to 1964 and just 20 per cent of those born before 1946.

In the event a referendum on this matter takes place in the UK—as has been the case in several U.S. states—respondents are evenly split, with 46 per cent of Britons wishing to define marriage as between a man and a woman, and 45 per cent preferring to call it as between two people. Respondents who have gay or lesbian friends and relatives are clearly at odds on this question.

There is little change in the question about homosexuality. A majority of Britons (55%) believe people are born gay, while only one-in-four (25%) think people choose to be homosexual.

Respondents were also asked about an incident that took place in a London pub in April, where Jonathan Williams and James Bull were thrown out for kissing. Almost half of respondents (48%) disagree with the pub’s decision to expel the gay couple, while 41 per cent agree with it.

Analysis

Since the survey conducted by Angus Reid Public Opinion on this same topic a year ago, there is little movement on the policy questions. Most respondents are choosing same-sex marriage over civil partnerships, and the same proportion of Britons remains unhappy with any legal recognition to same-sex couples. There is an even split on the referendum question, with a high level of support for a redefinition of marriage coming from respondents who have gay or lesbian friends or relatives.

As was the case last year, the debate over the future of same-sex marriage in Britain is marked by age. Respondents from the two youngest generations are more likely to voice support for new guidelines, while older Britons see no need for change.

Download Full Tables

Download Full Methodology Statement

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From July 14 to July 18, 2011, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 2,004 randomly selected British adults who are Springboard UK panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 2.2%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region data to ensure samples representative of the entire adult population of Great Britain. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

Americans of all political stripes have a similar moral compass on issues such as contraception, divorce and infidelity, but some striking differences become evident when their party allegiance is assessed, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative sample of 1,010 American adults, four-in-five respondents (80%) personally believe that contraception is morally acceptable.

At least half of respondents across the country feel the same way about gambling (68%), divorce (64%), sexual relations between an unmarried man and woman (64%), the death penalty (63%), medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos (55%) and having a baby outside of marriage (52%).

More than a third of respondents think six other issues are morally acceptable: buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur (43%), sexual relations between two people of the same sex (40%), abortion (37%), doctor-assisted suicide (36%), medical testing on animals (34%) and pornography (33%).

Only a quarter of respondents believe prostitution (25%) and cloning animals (24%) are morally acceptable. Less than one-in-five feel the same way about using illegal drugs (18%), suicide (14%), polygamy (12%), cloning humans (11%), married men and/or women having an affair (8%) and pedophilia (4%).

Political Allegiance

Republicans are clearly not in agreement with Democrats and Independents on seven of the issues that were included in the survey, including medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos (46%), having a baby outside of marriage (38%), abortion (27%), sexual relations between two people of the same sex (22%), pornography (22%), prostitution (16%) and illegal drugs (9%).

Democrats are more likely than the other two groups to find each issue as “morally acceptable” with the exception of three: the death penalty (57%), buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur (35%) and medical testing on animals (33%).

Independents are more likely to find sexual relations between an unmarried man and woman (73%) doctor-assisted suicide (42%), cloning animals (30%) and polygamy (16%) as “morally acceptable.”

Analysis

Republicans are evidently less accepting than other Americans when it comes to specific issues related to sex (same-sex relations, pornography and prostitution), and life (abortion, embryonic stem cell research). Democrats are at the other side of the spectrum on the treatment of animals (fur and medical testing) and are less likely to endorse the death penalty.

Independents are slightly closer to the Republicans on some moral issues (such as the death penalty and animal fur) and tend to side with the Democrats on others (such as prostitution and embryonic stem cell research).

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Communications & Media Relations
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From September 30 to October 1, 2010, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,010 American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of the United States. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

In addition, 32 per cent of Americans think same-sex couples should not have any kind of legal recognition.

In Britain, 41 per cent of respondents support same-sex marriage, while 37 per cent prefer the concept of civil partnerships. In Canada, 61 per cent think same-sex couples should continue to be allowed to legally marry.

In 2004, marriage certificates were issued to same-sex couples by local governments in the states of California, Oregon, New Mexico and New York. In May 2004, the state of Massachusetts allowed gay and lesbian partners to apply for marriage licenses. Same-sex marriage is also legal in Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire and the District of Columbia.

In May 2008, California’s Supreme Court overturned a ban on same-sex marriage in a 4-3 decision, effectively allowing full marriage rights to homosexual partners. In November 2008, 52.5 per cent of voters in California endorsed Proposition 8, which seeks to amend the state Constitution to define marriage as only between a man and a woman.

A U.S. District Court is currently reviewing the constitutional validity of California’s Proposition 8. The case was filed after Kristin Perry and Sandra Steir were denied a marriage license in the Alameda County in May 2009, because they are both women. It is expected that the case will eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court, which may have to rule about the validity of same-sex marriage at the federal level.

Last month, British Prime Minister David Cameron discussed his views on same-sex unions, saying, "I am pleased to announce that we are taking a further step, and I think a good step and a right step—and I say this as someone who believes in marriage, who believes in civil partnership, who believes in commitment—and that is to say that if religious organizations, if churches, if mosques, if temples want to have civil partnerships celebrated at religious places of worship, that should be able to happen and we should make that happen."

Same-sex marriage is currently legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Iceland and Argentina. At least 24 countries offer some form of legal recognition to same-sex unions.

Polling Data

Canada – Which of these statements comes closer to your own point of view on the legal recognition of same-sex couples in Canada?

United States – Which of these statements comes closer to your own point of view on the legal recognition of same-sex couples in the U.S.?

Britain – Which of these statements comes closer to your own point of view on the legal recognition of same-sex couples in the UK?

Complete Poll (PDF)