Support for gay marriage in California
has hit a new high as the Supreme Court prepares to deliberate on the
state's ban.
According to a Public
Policy Institute of California (PPIC) survey of 1,704 adults
conducted between May 14-20, 56 percent of respondents support
marriage equality, while 38 percent remain opposed.
“The more that there's been
acceptable and legal change in other states, the more Californians
have been accepting, especially among some of those groups that were
strongly opposed,” Mark Baldassare, president of PPIC, told
Bloomberg.
A majority of Democrats (63%) and
independents (61%) support gay nuptials, while Republicans remain
opposed by a 49-46 margin. However, support among Republicans has
doubled since October 2008 (from 23% to 46%).
Blacks continue to trail other minority
groups in terms of support. Among Blacks, Asians, Latinos and
whites, only a majority (52%) of Blacks are opposed.
A majority of people under 55 also are
in support. People 55 and older are split with 45 percent in favor
and 46 percent opposed.
In 2008, voters approved Proposition 8,
an amendment to the California Constitution which defines marriage as
a heterosexual union. Passage put an end to the gay weddings taking
place in the state since its highest court legalized such unions.
Sometime in June, the Supreme Court is expected to rule in a case
challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 8.