More voters in Oregon support gay
marriage than oppose the institution.
According to a
survey of 500 voters conducted by Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall
and paid for by Oregon Public Broadcasting and Fox 12, 49 percent of
respondents support gay nuptials, while 42 percent remain opposed.
Nine percent refused to answer.
Sixty-seven percent of voters under 35
said they support marriage equality.
Pollsters asked voters whether they
“favor or oppose changing the Oregon Constitution to allow same-sex
marriage in the state?”
Oregon is so far the only state
committed to a 2014 referendum on the issue. If successful, the
referendum would reverse the state's 2004 voter-approved
constitutional amendment limiting marriage to heterosexual couples.
Oregon United for Marriage, the
coalition of groups behind the effort, launched its petition drive at
an event on Valentine's Day attended by Governor John Kitzhaber and
former Governor Barbara Roberts, both Democrats who were among the
first to sign a petition needed to qualify for the ballot.
Last month, the group released its
first online video in support of next year's referendum.
(Related: Oregon
gay marriage push begins.)