Support for gay marriage among
Democrats has increased 15 percent since 2008, a new The Pew Forum on
Religion & Public Life survey has found.
According to the nationwide poll of
2,973 adults conducted between June 28 – July 9, 65 percent of
Democrats support gay nuptials, while 29 remain opposed. That's a 15
percent increase since 2008 when Democrats were more evenly divided
on the issue (50-42%), and a 25 percent rise since 2004.
Republican support for the institution
has also grown, but at a more modest pace. In 2008, 19 percent of
Republicans said they favored the institution. Four years later,
that number has increased 5 percent. A large majority (70%) of
Republicans oppose such unions.
Independents are more divided on the
issue. Fifty-one percent are in favor and 40 percent against, an
increase of 7 percent since 2008.
Pollsters
concluded that President Barack Obama's May announcement in
support of gay marriage has had little effect on public opinion.
However, the president's opinion may
have rallied Democrats to the issue. A six percent gain in support
was seen among Democrats after the president's announcement.
The percentage of Americans who believe
being gay is a choice has remained relatively unchanged over the past
six years, moving from 39 percent in 2006 to 36 percent today.