Issue Watch
Track global public opinion on current issues.
- 2008: Race for the White House
- 2008: The U.S. Electoral College
- Abortion
- Africa
- Angela Merkel
- Death Penalty
- Economy and Globalization
- Environment
- European Union
- George W. Bush
- Global Warming
- Gordon Brown
- Hamas
- Immigration
- Iran
- Iraq War
- Israel Election 2009
- Kevin Rudd
- Latin America
- Nicolas Sarkozy
- North Korea
- Oil and Gas
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Silvio Berlusconi
- Stem Cell Research
- Stephen Harper
- Taro Aso
- Terrorism
- Vladimir Putin
Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
Most in U.S. Remain Opposed to Same-Sex Marriage
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many Americans believe homosexual couples should not be allowed to enter wedlock, according to a poll by Princeton Survey Research Associates for the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. 51 per cent of respondents oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally, down 10 points since December 2004.
During the January 2004 State of the Union address, United States president George W. Bush said, "Activist judges (...) have begun redefining marriage by court order, without regard for the will of the people and their elected representatives." 48 per cent of respondents are opposed to allowing gays and lesbians to adopt children, down nine points since September 1999.
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.
Over the past two years, 19 American states have enacted amendments to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman. Four more will hold votes on the matter this year.
On Mar. 21, the New Hampshire House voted 207-125 to defeat a proposed constitutional amendment that sought to add a definition of marriage as "a union of one woman and one man" to the state's Bill of Rights.
Polling Data
Do you strongly favour, favour, oppose, or strongly oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally?
Mar. 2006 | Jul. 2005 | Dec. 2004 | |
Strongly favour | 10% | 13% | 14% |
Favour | 29% | 23% | 18% |
Oppose | 28% | 22% | 23% |
Strongly oppose | 23% | 31% | 38% |
Don't know | 10% | 11% | 7% |
Do you strongly favour, favour, oppose, or strongly oppose allowing gays and lesbians to adopt children?
Mar. 2006 | Sept. 1999 | |
Strongly favour | 14% | 10% |
Favour | 32% | 28% |
Oppose | 26% | 30% |
Strongly oppose | 22% | 27% |
Don't know | 6% | 5% |
Source: Princeton Survey Research Associates / Pew Research Center for the People and the Press
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,405 American adults, conducted from Mar. 8 to Mar. 12, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
Today's Global Monitor Polls & Research
- Britons Pick Brown Over Cameron on Economy
- Governing Liberals Trail Opponents in Denmark
- President Torrijos Falls Below 50% in Panama
- Palestinians See No Way to Statehood
- Americans Ponder Obama’s Next Move in Iraq
- Lead for Berlusconi Parties Narrows in Italy
- Sky-High Numbers Continue for Russian Leaders
- Likud Holds 12-Seat Advantage in Israel
Archive Search
Over 19,600 Polls
Search the Angus Reid Global Monitor Polls & Research archive.