An Election Day exit poll found that a
majority of Latino-Americans support marriage rights for gay and
lesbian couples.
The poll conducted
by ABC News found that nearly six-in-ten (59%) Latino voters
believe gay marriage should be legal, while 32 percent remain
opposed. Pollsters also found that non-Hispanic whites remain the
most opposed to marriage equality, 50% to 47%. A majority of black
voters (52%) also approve of such unions, while 40 percent said they
were opposed.
The results confirm an October survey
which found 60 percent of 400 Latino respondents support marriage
equality, while 38 percent disagree. Forty-eight percent said they
strongly support such unions, and 31 percent said they strongly
disagree. Two percent of respondents refused to answer.
The increase among Latinos outpaces the
general population, whose support has increased at an average rate of
1 or 2 percent per year.
Hispanic support for marriage equality
has increased nearly 15 percentage points in 3 years. An October,
2009 NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found only 45 percent of
Latinos in favor.
“Latinos care about marriage because
they care about family, and no member of anyone's family should ever
face discrimination,” said
Thalia Zepatos, director of public engagement for Freedom to
Marry, which supports gay nuptials. “As more Latinos talk with
their gay and lesbian family members, they realize that no one should
be denied the freedom to marry the person that they love.”