A large majority of Arizona voters
oppose SB 1062, the bill vetoed last week by Republican Governor Jan
Brewer which opponents say would have allowed businesses and
individuals to discriminate against gay people based on their
religious beliefs.
(Related: Arizona's
Jan Brewer vetoes “license to discriminate against gays” bill.)
According to a Public
Policy Polling survey released Monday, sixty-six percent of
respondents said that they oppose the measure, while 22 percent
support it.
An even larger majority, 72 percent,
support Brewer's decision to veto the bill.
Nearly half of all respondents, 49
percent, said that they support allowing gay couples to marry, while
41 percent remain opposed.
However, 3 in 4 Arizonans support state
recognition for gay couples. Seventy-five percent of respondents
said that Arizona should recognize gay couples with either marriage
(45%) or civil unions (32%).
Despite an initial ruling in its favor,
Nevada last month decided that it would no longer defend its law
excluding gay couples from marriage in an appeal before the Ninth
Circuit Court of Appeals. The outcome of the case could impact
Arizona, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Montana, each of which fall under
the court's jurisdiction and currently prohibit gay couples from
marriage.