(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in New York believe the concept of wedlock should be extended to include homosexual couples, according to a poll by Global Strategy Group for Empire State Pride Agenda. 53 per cent of respondents support allowing same-sex couples to marry, while 38 per cent disagree.

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."

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. 72 per cent of respondents support the concept of civil unions.

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.

Last month, Democratic state attorney general Eliot Spitzer—the frontrunner in New York's gubernatorial election—said he would introduce a bill to legalize same-sex marriage if the state's courts do not strike down the prohibition first.

Polling Data

Do you support or oppose allowing same-sex couples to marry, giving them the same legal rights are other married couples?

Do you support or oppose allowing same-sex couples to form civil unions or domestic partnerships that are not marriages but would give similar legal protections in such areas as inheritance, taxes, health insurance and hospital visits?

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