A CNN/ORC poll released Thursday showed
63 percent of Americans support gay couples' constitutional right to
marry.
According to the poll of 1,027 adults
conducted February 12-15, 63 percent of Americans believe that gay
couples have “a constitutional right to get married and have their
marriage recognized by law as valid,” while 36 percent remain
opposed. Seventy-two percent of adults under age 34 favor marriage
equality.
A large majority (75%) of Democrats see
marriage for gays as a constitutional right, while 42 percent of
Republicans agree.
Evan Wolfson, president of Freedom to
Marry, said in a statement that the
poll shows that America is ready for a Supreme Court ruling
striking down state marriage bans.
“The American people are now as clear
as the Constitution itself: it's time for the freedom to marry for
all, leaving no one behind,” Wolfson said. “As same-sex couples
can now marry in nearly three-fourths of the states, we've seen no
pushback, no resistance, but rather, continued growing and widening
support. The American people's recognition that not only is the
freedom to marry right for all couples, but it is a constitutional
right that should not be denied to gay people, should give comfort to
the Supreme Court: America is ready for the freedom to marry.
Americans would embrace the Supreme Court's affirming the freedom to
marry for gay couples under the Constitution.”
Justices will hear a case challenging
four state bans in April.