A majority of Missouri voters say the
government should recognize the unions of gay and lesbian couples.
According to a Public
Policy Polling survey of 602 Missouri voters released Friday, 64
percent said they believe gay couples should either be allowed to
marry (33%) or form civil unions (31%). Thirty-two percent said
there should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship.
While a majority (52%) of voters say
gay marriage should be illegal, opposition has decreased 7 percentage
points since September, and support has increased four percent.
Pollsters noted that support among
African-Americans increased in several state polls, notably in
Maryland
and Pennsylvania,
after President Barack Obama gave his personal endorsement, and the
trend was also visible in Missouri.
“President Obama's nod of approval
continues to influence black voters' own opinions,” pollsters wrote
in releasing the survey's findings. “African-American voters lead
the spike in support for gay marriage after a complete turnaround
from just four months ago. 50% of Missouri African Americans think
gay marriage should be legal, twice their level of support in
January. 81% of Missouri African Americans believe gay couples
should either be allowed to marry or form civil unions, a 31-point
upswing from the previous survey.”