A majority of American adults say the
relationships of gay men and lesbians are morally acceptable, a new
survey has found.
When New Jersey-based pollster Gallup
asked, “Do you personally believe gay or lesbian relations are
morally acceptable or morally wrong?” a narrow majority (54%) of
respondents said “morally acceptable.”
Public acceptance of gay unions as
morally acceptable has increased 16 percentage points since 2002.
A majority (63%) of Americans also said
gay sex should be legal, a 31 point increase since 1986 when 57
percent supported outlawing such relations. Thirty-one percent today
remain opposed.
Young people aged 18 to 34, Democrats
and nonreligious Americans are more supportive of gay rights than
their counterparts. Majorities in each group believe gay sex should
be legal, gay relationships are morally acceptable and support
legalizing gay marriage.
Among Christians, Catholics are more
supportive than Protestants: 68 percent of Catholics say gay
relations should be legal, 66 percent say they are morally
acceptable, and 51 percent support marriage equality.
Americans are divided on whether being
gay is an immutable characteristic, with 40 percent saying people are
born gay and 35 percent disagreeing.