A poll released Thursday found
increasing support for gay marriage among Pennsylvania voters.
According to a Public Policy Polling
survey of 504 Pennsylvania voters, the state is nearly evenly divided
on the issue, with 45 percent of respondents saying gay nuptials
should be allowed and 47 percent opposed. Eight percent refused to
answer.
Support has increased 9 percentage
points since a November, 2011 poll taken by the firm.
Voters under 45 support marriage
equality 58-35, while seniors remain opposed 62-28.
“The massive generational gap on gay
marriage in Pennsylvania reflects what we see [in] most places,”
Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy Polling, said
in releasing the findings. “Majority support for it is just
around the corner.”
When given the option of civil unions,
an overwhelmingly number (74%) of voters are either in favor of
marriage (38%) or civil unions (36%). Only 24 percent oppose any
legal recognition for gay couples. Sixty-eight percent of
Republicans support one or the other.