May 26, 2006

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in the United States believe marriages between homosexuals should not be recognized by the law as valid, according to a poll by Gallup published in USA Today. 58 per cent of respondents believe these couples should not have the same rights of traditional marriages, down 10 points since March 2005.

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in the United States believe marriages between homosexuals should not be recognized by the law as valid, according to a poll by Gallup published in USA Today. 58 per cent of respondents believe these couples should not have the same rights of traditional marriages, down 10 points since March 2005.

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.

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.

On Jun. 5, the U.S. Senate will begin debating the Federal Marriage Amendment, which seeks to constitutionally define marriage as being between a man and a woman in the entire country. 50 per cent of respondents believe the measure is necessary, while 47 per cent disagree.

In July 2004, the upper house voted 50 to 48 to end deliberations on the issue of a federal constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Polling Data

Do you think marriages between homosexuals should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?

	May 2006	Mar. 2005
Should be recognized as valid	39%	28%
Should not be recognized as valid	58%	68%

Would you favour or oppose a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as being between a man and a woman, thus barring marriages between gay or lesbian couples?

	May 2006	May 2005
Favour	50%	53%
Oppose	47%	44%

Source: Gallup / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 515 American adults (First Question) and 1,002 American adults (Second Question), conducted from May 8 to May 11, 2006. Margins of error are 4 per cent and 3 per cent respectively.