August 14, 2006

Abstract: - Many adults in the United States reject the concept of same-sex marriage, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. 56 per cent of respondents oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally.

- Many adults in the United States reject the concept of same-sex marriage, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. 56 per cent of respondents oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally.

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, the first state-sanctioned homosexual weddings in the U.S.

Civil unions—currently available in the states of Vermont and Connecticut—give same-sex partners the same legal rights of married couples such as inheritance, insurance and hospital visiting privileges. A California law grants domestic partners the same legal rights of married couples, with the exception of filing joint income tax returns. 54 per cent of respondents support allowing some sort of civil union for same-sex partners.

On Jun. 7, a proposal to enact a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage failed in the Senate after a 49-48 vote. On Jul. 18, a House of Representatives effort to constitutionally prohibit any form of marriage other than one "between a man and a woman" fell 46 votes short of the 289 required to pass.

Over the past two years, 19 American states have enacted amendments to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman. Seven more will hold votes on the matter this year.

Earlier this month, Indiana's Supreme Court refused to hear arguments in a case that sought to forbid unmarried couples, including those of the same gender, from adopting children. 52 per cent of respondents are against allowing gays and lesbians to adopt children.

Polling Data

Do you favour or oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally?

	Jul. 2006	Jun. 2006	Mar. 2006
Favour	35%	33%	39%
Oppose	56%	55%	51%
Not sure	9%	12%	10%

Do you favour or oppose allowing gay and lesbian couples to enter into legal agreements with each other that would give them many of the same rights as married couples?

	Jul. 2006	Jul. 2005
Favour	54%	53%
Oppose	42%	40%
Not sure	4%	7%

Do you favour or oppose allowing gays and lesbians to adopt children?

	Jul. 2006	Mar. 2006
Favour	42%	46%
Oppose	52%	48%
Not sure	6%	6%

Source: Pew Research Center for the People and the Press
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 2,003 American adults, conducted from Jul. 6 to Jul. 19, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.