Support For Marriage Equality Unchanged Since Obama Endorsement
Although gay-rights advocates greeted President Obama’s historic declaration of support for marriage equality with jubilation in May, a new poll suggests his support has had little affect on voters.
In a survey published by the Pew Research Center, support for same-sex marriage has increased by just a percentage point, from 47 percent in April to 48 percent in July. Opposition to same-sex marriage also increased from 43 percent to 44 percent. Accounting for margin of error, the increases on both sides are insignificant.
Most tellingly is opposition among Democrats. The poll comes after news that the Democratic Party is poised to support marriage equality as part of their national platform. Although support for same-sex marriage among Democrats has increased from 59 to 65 percent since April, 29 percent of Democrats remain opposed to allowing gay couples to wed. Those Democrats could create problems at the Democratic National Convention in September when the party considers a marriage-equality plank.
On the other side of the political spectrum, Republican opposition has remained largely unchanged, with 75 percent opposed to marriage equality before Obama’s announcement and 78 percent opposed today.
“There is virtually no change in attitudes toward gay marriage across age, race and ethnic groups,” reads the report. “There is also little evidence that views of Obama have changed as a result of his support for gay marriage.”
It is also worth noting that most Americans do not view marriage equality as a major issue this November. According to Pew, only 4 percent of Americans — one in 20 — say that gay marriage is the issue that will decide which presidential candidate they will vote for in the general election.
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