July 28, 2003

Abstract: (CPOD) Jul. 28, 2003 - Most Americans are far from endorsing same-sex marriages, but opposition to the idea has diminished over the past seven years, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. 38 per cent of respondents support allowing gay and lesbian couples to wed, an 11 per cent increase since 1996.

(CPOD) Jul. 28, 2003 - Most Americans are far from endorsing same-sex marriages, but opposition to the idea has diminished over the past seven years, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. 38 per cent of respondents support allowing gay and lesbian couples to wed, an 11 per cent increase since 1996.

The United States Supreme Court overturned Texas' sodomy law earlier this year, in what was considered a major victory for gay rights advocates. The Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia have allowed homosexual marriage after separate court rulings, prompting American same-sex couples to seek licenses outside the U.S.

The Vatican recently expressed concern over these recent developments, and is preparing a document titled "Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons" to be released on Jul. 31.

Polling Data

Do you favour or oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry?

	Jun. 1996	Mar. 2001	Jul. 2003
Strongly favour	6%	8%	10%
Favour	21%	27%	28%
Oppose	24%	23%	23%
Strongly oppose	41%	34%	30%

Source: Pew Research Center for the People and Press
Methodology: Interviews to 2,002 American adults, conducted from Jun. 24 to Jul. 8, 2003. Margin of error is 2.5 per cent.