(Angus Reid Consultants - CPOD Global Scan) - Many adults in the United States remain opposed to same-sex marriage, according to a poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. 65 per cent of respondents would oppose a law that would allow gays and lesbians to wed, a two per cent increase since July.

During the January 2004 State of the Union address, U.S. 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."

Marriage certificates were issued to same-sex couples by local governments in the states of California, Oregon, New Mexico and New York earlier this year. In May, 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 only in the state of Vermont—give same-sex partners some of the legal rights of married couples such as inheritance, insurance and hospital visiting privileges. 45 per cent of respondents support this concept, a five per cent increase since July.

On Nov. 2, voters in 11 American states enacted amendments to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman. 43 per cent of respondents would support federal constitutional changes to ban same-sex marriage.

Polling Data

Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married?

Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to form civil unions, giving them many of the legal rights of married couples?

Would you support or oppose amending the United States Constitution to ban same-sex marriage?

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