Mar 08, 2007News: Same-sex marriage gaining support among Californians
By vanrozenheim
(Sacramento, USA) - According to a poll performed by the Field Research Corporaton, the support for same-sex marriages by Californians increased from 30% in 1985, to 43% in 2006 (wtih 50% opposing the idea to allow gay couples to wed). Asked to choose whether gay couples should be allowed to marry, enter domestic partnerships or get no legal recognition, about a third of Californians choose each category.
Strong differences in attitudes towards acceptance of same-sex relationships remain based on race, religion and political ideology.
While 76% of Liberals show acceptance for the same-sex relationships, only 15% of Conservatives do. Among Democrats, 59% would let gays marry, while only 23% Republicans would agree to the idea.
Jewish respondents were 70% supportive to equal marriage, alongside with atheists (71% pro-gay). Only 28% of Protestants were supportive, while even among Catholics the support extended to 38%.
Among white non-Hispanics were 46% pro-gay, among Latinos 35%. The most supportive were Asian communities with 55%, the lest supportive Black communities with only 23% acceptance.
Women were more likely to support the notion of equal marriage (47%) than men (39%).
The results show a striking difference of attitudes towards gays among people with different backgrounds. In particular, the presented poll results give reason to serious concerns about well-being of gay teenagers and young adults from Protestant and Black communities.
