Half of Americans believe gay and
lesbian couples have a constitutional right to marriage.
According to a Washington
Post-ABC
News poll released Friday, 50 percent of respondents say the U.S.
Constitution's Equal Protection clause guarantees gay couples the
right to marry. Forty-three percent disagree.
Following last June's Supreme Court
ruling striking down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), challenges
to restrictive state marriage bans have been filed in all but one
state, North Dakota – where a challenge is being planned. Marriage
equality advocates have yet to lose a case, with a string of judges
citing the Constitution's Equal Protection clause.
In states where gay couples are not
allowed to marry, 45 percent say the right is a constitutional right
and 48 percent say it is not. In states with marriage equality, 56
percent see it as a right.
The survey also found a majority (56%)
of Americans support marriage equality, with 38 percent opposed.