April 11, 2006

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in the Evergreen State are satisfied with a recent change to their legislation, according to a poll by SurveyUSA released by KING-TV. 52 per cent of respondents in Washington support the bill that adds "sexual orientation" to a state law that bans discrimination in housing, employment, insurance and credit.

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in the Evergreen State are satisfied with a recent change to their legislation, according to a poll by SurveyUSA released by KING-TV. 52 per cent of respondents in Washington support the bill that adds "sexual orientation" to a state law that bans discrimination in housing, employment, insurance and credit.

Support is lower for a proposal to allow gay and lesbian couples to enter wedlock. Only 36 per cent of respondents think the state of Washington should allow same-sex couples to get married.

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. 47 per cent of respondents support this concept, while 45 per cent do not.

The Supreme Court of Washington is expected to rule on the constitutionality of a same-sex marriage ban. In August 2004, King County Superior Court judge William Downing said that the state's Constitution guarantees basic rights to homosexual persons, which would be violated is they are forbidden from marrying.

Polling Data

Washington State recently passed a gay civil rights bill. It adds "sexual orientation" to a state law that bans discrimination in housing, employment, insurance and credit Do you support or oppose this bill?

Support	52%
Oppose	39%
Not sure	9%

Do you think the state of Washington should? Or should not allow same-sex couples to get married?

Should	36%
Should not	61%
Not sure	4%

Do you think Washington should? Or should not allow civil unions for same-sex couples?

Should	47%
Should not	45%
Not sure	7%

Source: SurveyUSA / KING-TV
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 500 Washington adults, conducted on Apr. 3 and Apr. 4, 2006. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.