A new poll shows a majority of voters
in Virginia oppose the state's ban on gay marriage.
According to a Christopher Newport
University poll of 944 registered voters, including 753 likely
voters, conducted last week, 56 percent of respondents oppose
Virginia's 2006 constitutional amendment which prohibits the state
from recognizing any union other than a heterosexual marriage, while
just over a third (36%) support the ban. Seven percent refused to
answer.
“Three in four Democrats oppose the
ban, while nearly six in ten independents oppose it,” pollsters
said in announcing their findings. “Among Republicans, 60%
support the ban.”
Voters overwhelmingly (57-43%) approved
the ban in 2006.
Two lawsuits challenging the
constitutionality of the law have been filed in recent months.
Lawyer Ted Olson and David Boies, who represented two gay couples in
the fight to end California's marriage ban, Proposition 8, last month
joined one of the Virginia lawsuits.
(Related: AFER
lawyers Ted Olson, David Boies join Virginia gay marriage suit.)