Public opinion of same-sex marriage in the United States
Public opinion of same-sex marriage in the United States is significantly supportive, with a majority of Americans being in favor of same-sex marriage.[2] National support for the legal recognition of same-sex marriage rose above 50% for the first time in 2011. Today, support for gay marriage is in the low 70s.[2][3][4]
From 1988 to 2009, support for same-sex marriage increased between 1% and 1.5% per year and accelerated thereafter.[5] As of 2016, 69% of Americans aged 18–29 support the right to enter a same-sex marriage.[6] As of 2017, there is majority support for same-sex marriage in 44 states, plurality support in 4 states, plurality opposition in 1 state, and majority opposition in 1 state.[1]
Overview
Public opinion of same-sex marriage in the United States has changed radically since polling of the American people regarding the issue was first conducted in 1988.[7] The issue of same-sex marriage was not brought up as an issue for public debate until at least the 1950s[8] and wasn't a political issue until the 1970s.[9] According to statistician Nate Silver of the poll aggregator FiveThirtyEight, from 1988 to April 2009, support for same-sex marriage increased between 1% and 1.5% per year and about 4% from April 2009 to August 2010.[10] A Pew Research Center poll, conducted from May 21, 2008 to May 25, 2008, found that, for the first time, a majority of Americans did not oppose same-sex marriage, with opposition having fallen to 49%.[11] An ABC News/Washington Post poll, conducted from April 21, 2009 to April 24, 2009, found that, for the first time, a plurality of Americans supported same-sex marriage at 49% and that a majority of Americans supported the marriages of same-sex couples validly entered into in one state being recognized in all states at 53%.[12] A CNN/Opinion Research poll, conducted from August 6, 2010 to August 10, 2010, found that, for the first time, a majority of Americans supported same-sex marriage at 52%.[13] A Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research poll, conducted from January 25, 2015 to January 31, 2015, found that, for the first time, 60% of Americans supported same-sex marriage.[14]
Continual polling by Gallup over the course of more than two decades has shown that support for same-sex marriage has grown rapidly, while opposition has simultaneously collapsed. In 1996, 68% of Americans opposed same-sex marriage, while only 27% supported. In 2018, 67% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while only 31% opposed.[3] As of 2018, 60% of Americans said they would not mind if their child married someone of the same gender.[15]
National polls
Post-Obergefell v. Hodges
An October 2020 Public Religion Research Institute poll found that 70% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 28% were opposed.[2]
A June 2020 Gallup poll found that 67% of Americans supported same sex marriage, while 31% were against, matching their May 2018 record high.
A June 2019 CBS News poll found that 67% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 28% were against.[16]
A June 2019 IPSOS/Reuters poll found that 58% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 28% were against.[17]
A May 2019 Pew Research Center poll found 61% of Americans supported same-sex marriage while 31% were against.[18]
A May 2019 Gallup poll found that 63% of Americans supported same sex marriage, with 36% opposing it. While this is a drop when compared to 2018, same sex marriage approval still remains stable. [19]
A May 2018 Gallup poll found that 67% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, 31% opposed, and 2% had no opinion.[3]
An April 2018 NBC News poll found that 64% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, 33% opposed, and 3% had no opinion.[20] The poll was reported by NBC News as notable as it found that 55% of Southerners supported same-sex marriage, which represented an historic change for a region that was previously staunchly opposed.[21]
A Public Religion Research Institute nationwide & state-by-state poll conducted throughout 2017 found that 61% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, 30% opposed, and 9% had no opinion, with there being majority support for same-sex marriage in 44 states, plurality support in 4 states, plurality opposition in 1 state, and majority opposition in 1 state.[1]
An August 2017 NBC News/The Wall Street Journal poll found that 60% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, 33% opposed, and 7% had no opinion.[22][23]
A June 2017 Pew Research Center poll found 62% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, 32% opposed, and 6% had no opinion. This marked the first Pew poll where a majority of Baby Boomers supported same-sex marriage, did not oppose same-sex marriage.[24]
A May 2017 Gallup poll found 64% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, 34% opposed, and 2% had no opinion. This marked the first Gallup poll where a majority of Protestants supported same-sex marriage.[25]
A May 2016 Gallup poll found 61% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, 37% opposed, and 2% had no opinion. This marked the first Gallup poll where a majority of Americans aged 65 and older supported same-sex marriage.[26]
Pre-Obergefell v. Hodges
A May 2015 Gallup poll found 60% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, 37% opposed, and 3% had no opinion.[27]
A February–March 2015 Wall Street Journal poll found that 59% of Americans favored same-sex marriage.[28]
A January–February 2015 Human Rights Campaign poll found that 60% of Americans favored same-sex marriage, while 37% opposed. The same poll also found that 46% of respondents knew a same-sex couple who had gotten married.[14]
A February 12–15, 2015 CNN/ORC poll found that 63% of Americans believed same-sex marriage is a constitutional right, while 36% disagreed.[29]
A May 2014 Gallup poll found that 55% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, 42% opposed, and 4% had no opinion.[30]
An April 2014 Public Religion Research Institute poll sponsored by the Ford Foundation found that 55% of all Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 39% were opposed.[31]
A Pew Research Center poll released in March 2014 found 54% of Americans favored same-sex marriage, 39% opposed, and 7% didn't know.[32] It also researched support for same-sex marriage among Republican leaning voters in the United States. 61% of Republican leaning voters aged 18–29 supported allowing same-sex couples to marry, while only 27% of Republican leaning voters over 50 years of age were supportive.[33] 52% of Republican voters aged 18–50 supported same-sex marriage.[34][35]
A Washington Post/ABC News poll from February–March 2014 found that a record high of 59% of Americans approved of same-sex marriage, with only 34% opposed and 7% with no opinion. The poll also revealed that 53% of the population in the states that did not allow same-sex couples to marry at the time approved of same-sex marriage. 50% of respondents agreed that the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the freedom to marry regardless of sex or sexual orientation, while 41% disagreed, and 9% had no opinion.[36] The same poll also found that 81% of people believed that businesses should not be allowed to refuse to serve gays and lesbians. 16% disagreed, and 3% had no opinion. 78% thought that gay couples can be "just as good parents" as straight couples, while 18% disagreed and 4% had no opinion.[37]
A November/December 2013 Public Religion Research Institute poll sponsored by the Ford Foundation found that 53% of all Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 41% were opposed and 6% unsure. The margin of error was 1.1%. The same poll found clear majorities in favor of same-sex marriage in the Northeast (60%), West (58%), and Midwest (51%). Only the South was evenly divided 48% in favor to 48% opposed. Further, nearly 7-in-10 (69%) of those born after 1980 (ages 18–33) favored allowing same-sex couples to marry.[38]
A Bloomberg National Poll conducted by Selzer & Company taken during September 20–23, 2013 found that 55% supported same-sex marriage, while 36% opposed and 9% were unsure.[39]
A September Quinnipiac University poll found that 56% of American adults and 57% of registered voters supported same-sex marriage. Only 36% of both groups were opposed.[40]
A July 10–14 poll by Gallup found support for same-sex marriage at 54%, a record high, and double the support of 27% Gallup first measured when the question was asked in 1996.[41]
A July poll by USA Today found that 55% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 40% did not.[42]
A May 9 Washington Post-ABC News poll found that 55% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 40% did not.[43]
A March 20–24 CBS News Poll found that 53% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, 39% opposed it, and 8% were undecided.[44] The same poll also found that 33% of Americans who thought same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry said they once held the opposite view and had changed their opinion.
A March 7–10 Washington Post-ABC News[45] poll found that 58% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 36% opposed. The poll indicated that 52% of GOP-leaning independents under 50 years old supported same-sex marriage.[46]
A March Quinnipiac University poll of voters found 47% supported same-sex marriage and 43% were opposed.[47]
A November 26–29 Gallup poll found that 53% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 46% did not.[48]
A November 16–19 CBS News poll found that 51% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 40% did not.[49]
A November 7–11 ABC News/Washington Post poll found that 51% of respondents supported same-sex marriage, while 47% were opposed.[50]
A June 6 CNN/ORC International poll showed that a majority of Americans supported same-sex marriage being legalized at 54%, while 42% were opposed.[51]
A May 22 NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll showed that 54% of Americans would support a law in their state making same-sex marriage legal, with 40% opposed.[52]
A May 17–20 ABC News/Washington Post poll showed that 53% believed same-sex marriage should be legal, with only 39% opposed, a low point for opposition in any national poll that far.[53][54]
A May 10 USA Today/Gallup Poll, taken one day after Barack Obama became the first sitting president to express support for same-sex marriage,[55] showed 51% of Americans agreed with the President's endorsement, while 45% disagreed.[56] A May 8 Gallup Poll showed majority support for same-sex marriage nationwide, with 50% in favor and 48% opposed.[57]
An April Pew Research Center poll showed support for same-sex marriage at 48%, while opposition fell to 44%.[58]
A March 7–10 ABC News/Washington Post poll found 52% of adults thought it should be legal for same-sex couples to get married, while 42% disagreed and 5% were unsure.[39] A March survey by the Public Religion Research Institute found 52% of Americans supported allowing same-sex couples to marry, while 44% opposed.[59]
A February 29 – March 3 NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll found 49% of adults supported allowing same-sex couples to marry, while 40% opposed.[60]
Public support for same-sex marriage continued to grow in 2011. In February and March, a Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey found about as many adults favored (45%) as opposed (46%) allowing same-sex couples to marry legally, compared to a 2009 Pew Research survey that found just 37% backed same-sex marriage while 54% opposed.[61] In March and April, polls by Gallup,[62] ABC News/Washington Post,[63] and CNN/Opinion Research[64] all showed that a majority of Americans approved of same-sex marriage.
As had been the case since 1996, there remained a wide partisan division. In March, Pew reported that 57% of Democrats favored legal recognition for same-sex marriage, and 51% of independents agreed, but only 23% of Republicans agreed.[61] An April CNN/Opinion Research Poll showed majority support including 64% of Democrats and 55% of independents, but only 27% of Republicans.[64]
In March 2011, Democracy Corps conducted a survey of 1,000 likely 2012 election voters in 50 congressional districts considered political battlegrounds. It asked respondents to rate their feelings on the same-sex marriage issue on a 0–100 scale, with 100 being "very warm" or favorable feelings, and 0 being "very cold" or unfavorable feelings. 42% were on the "cool" or unfavorable side, and 35% were on the "warm" or favorable side.[65]
A May 2011 Gallup Poll also showed majority support for same-sex marriage, 53% in favor to 45% opposed. Gallup measured a 9-point increase in support, from 44% to 53%, indicating that support increased faster than in any previous year.[62]
An August Associated Press/National Constitution Center poll found 52% agreed that the federal government should give legal recognition to marriages between couples of the same sex, an increase from 46% in 2009. 46% disagreed, compared to 53% in 2009.[66]
An August CNN/Opinion Research Poll showed that 49% of respondents thought gays and lesbians do have a constitutional right to get married and have their marriage recognized by law as valid, and 52% thought gays and lesbians should have that right.[67]
Earlier polls in February and May found opinion divided within the margin of error, but with a consistent trend of increasing support and decreasing opposition compared to prior years.[68][69] One August poll found majority opposition,[70] and a November exit poll of 17,504 voters by CNN during the 2010 midterm elections found 53% opposition with 41% support.[71]
An April 30, 2009 ABC News/Washington Post poll found support for allowing same-sex couples to marry in the United States ahead of opposition for the first time: 49% support, 46% opposition, and 5% with no opinion. In addition, 53% believed that same-sex marriages performed in other states should be legal in their states. 62% of Democrats and 52% of Independents supported same-sex marriage, while 74% of Republicans opposed.[72]
An April 22–26, 2009, poll by CBS/New York Times found 42% supported marriage for same-sex couples, 25% supported civil unions, and 28% opposed any legal recognition of same-sex couples.[73] 5% of respondents were unsure.
Nate Silver noted that the discrepancy in support for same-sex marriage appeared to result from 5-10% of respondents who favored civil unions over same-sex marriage, but given only two choices, would support same-sex marriage.[74]
A LifeWay Research poll conducted in August 2009 found that 61% of Americans born between 1980 and 1991 saw nothing wrong with two people of the same gender getting married, while 39% disagreed. The survey was conducted on a demographically representative survey of 1,200 U.S. adults between 18 and 29 years old.[75]
In a poll, conducted on July 17, 2008, by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, 55 percent opposed same-sex marriage, and 36 percent were in favor.[76] An ABC News poll found that a majority (58%) of Americans remained opposed to same-sex marriages, while a minority (36%) support them. However, on the question of a constitutional amendment, more were opposed than for it. The majority (51%) of Americans said the issue should be left for the states to decide, while 43% would agree with amending the Constitution.[77]
When asked about the legal status, a July 2008 poll by Quinnipiac University Polling Institute revealed that 32% of respondents would allow homosexual partners to legally marry, 33% would permit them to form civil unions, and 29% would grant them no legal recognition.[76][78] A December 2008 poll revealed that 32% of respondents supported the concept of civil unions, 31% would offer full marriage rights to same-sex couples, and 30% opposed any legal recognition for gay and lesbian partnerships.[79]
Prior to this poll, Gallup conducted a poll on the issue through May 2006. The poll found that opposition to same-sex marriage had fallen slightly, as other polls found a sharper dip. In the poll, when asked if marriages between homosexuals should be recognized by law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages, 58% (down 1 point from Aug 2005, and 9 points from March 1996) of Americans responded that they should not be recognized. 39% (up 2 points from Aug 2005, and 12 points from 1996) felt same-sex marriages should be recognized by law. If "homosexuals" is replaced with "same-sex couples", 42% backed same-sex marriage while 56% opposed it.
A similar poll conducted in March 2006, a Princeton Survey Research Associates/Pew Research Center poll concluded that 39% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 51% opposed it, and 10% were undecided. In December 2004, a poll by the same company found that 61% of Americans opposed – with 38% "strongly opposed". Less than 2 years later, just 23% were "strongly opposed". However, an identical poll taken by the same group in June 2006 found a rise in those opposed to same-sex marriage, with 56% disapproving of the practice.
A Pew study in March 2006 found that 51% opposed same-sex marriage, with 39% supporting it, and the level of "strongly opposing" same-sex marriage had fallen from 42% to 28%.[80] Pew's May 2008 Survey found that for the first time, a majority of people did not oppose same-sex marriage at 49%. 20% opposed and 29% strongly opposed same-sex marriage, up 1% from the March 2006 Pew Research Results.[81]
An October 1989 Yankelovich Clancy Shulman telephone poll found that 69% of Americans opposed same-sex marriage, with 23% supporting same-sex marriage, and 8% being not sure.[82]
A 1988 International Social Survey Programme poll found that 68.3% of Americans opposed same-sex marriage, while 11.9% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, and 14.1% of Americans neither agreed or disagreed.[83]
A 1988 National Opinion Research Center / General Social Survey / University of Chicago poll found that 67.6% of Americans opposed same-sex marriage, 10.7% of Americans supported it, 13.9% of Americans neither agreed or disagreed, and 7.8% didn't know / etc.[84]
By age
| Date(s) conducted | Age | Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Don't Know / Refused | Margin of error | Sample | Conducted by | Polling type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | 18-29 | 79% | 19% | 2% | 351 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | |
| August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 | 18-34 | 75% | 2.82% | 360 adults | NBC News / Wall Street Journal | Live interviews and cell phone interviews | ||
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | 18-48 | 72% | 24% | 4% | 1,106 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | |
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | 30-49 | 67% | 28% | 5% | 665 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | |
| August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 | 35-49 | 60% | 2.82% | 300 adults | NBC News / Wall Street Journal | Live interviews and cell phone interviews | ||
| August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 | 50-64 | 55% | 2.82% | 336 adults | NBC News / Wall Street Journal | Live interviews and cell phone interviews | ||
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | 50-64 | 56% | 38% | 6% | 778 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | |
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | 50+ | 52% | 41% | 7% | 1,452 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | |
| August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 | 65+ | 42% | 2.82% | 204 adults | NBC News / Wall Street Journal | Live interviews and cell phone interviews | ||
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | 65+ | 46% | 45% | 9% | 674 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | |
By education
| Date(s) conducted | Education | Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Don't Know / Refused | Margin of error | Sample | Conducted by | Polling type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | College grad | 72% | 23% | 6% | 719 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | |
| College grad+ | 75% | 21% | 5% | 1,199 adults | ||||
| August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 | College graduates | 68% | 2.82% | 468 adults | NBC News / Wall Street Journal | Live interviews and cell phone interviews | ||
| High school or less | 48% | 372 adults | ||||||
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | HS or less | 53% | 41% | 6% | 634 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | |
| Non-college | 57% | 37% | 6% | 1,295 adults | ||||
| Postgrad | 79% | 17% | 3% | 480 adults | ||||
| August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 | Postgraduates | 72% | 2.82% | 168 adults | NBC News / Wall Street Journal | Live interviews and cell phone interviews | ||
| Some college | 61% | 192 adults | ||||||
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | Some college | 62% | 32% | 6% | 661 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | |
By ethnicity or race
| Date(s) conducted | Ethnicity or race | Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Don't Know / Refused | Margin of error | Sample | Conducted by | Polling type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | Black, non-Hispanic | 51% | 41% | 7% | 7.3% | 241 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews |
| August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 | African-American | 51% | 2.82% | 144 adults | NBC News / Wall Street Journal | Live interviews and cell phone interviews | ||
| Hispanic | 66% | 840 adults | ||||||
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | Hispanic | 60% | 36% | 5% | 6.5% | 297 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews |
| August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 | Total Non-White | 60% | 2.82% | 312 adults | NBC News / Wall Street Journal | Live interviews and cell phone interviews | ||
| White | 60% | 888 adults | ||||||
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | White, non-Hispanic | 64% | 31% | 5% | 2.7% | 1,737 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews |
By gender
| Date(s) conducted | Gender | Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Don't Know / Refused | Margin of error | Sample | Conducted by | Polling type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 | Men | 61% | 2.82% | 576 adults | NBC News / Wall Street Journal | Live interviews and cell phone interviews | ||
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | 60% | 34% | 6% | 1,355 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | ||
| August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 | Women | 59% | 2.82% | 624 adults | NBC News / Wall Street Journal | Live interviews and cell phone interviews | ||
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | 64% | 30% | 5% | 1,149 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | ||
By geography
| Date(s) conducted | Geography | Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Margin of error | Sample | Conducted by | Polling type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 | Rural | 47% | 2.82% | NBC News / Wall Street Journal | Live interviews and cell phone interviews | |
| Suburban | 61% | |||||
| Urban | 66% | |||||
By income
| Date(s) conducted | Income | Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Don't Know / Refused | Margin of error | Sample | Conducted by | Polling type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | <$30,000 | 54% | 39% | 7% | 568 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | |
| $30,000-$74,999 | 65% | 31% | 5% | 787 adults | ||||
| $75,000+ | 72% | 23% | 5% | 951 adults | ||||
By political affiliation
| Date(s) conducted | Political affiliation | State sanctioned same-sex marriage should be valid / Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage |
Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Don't Know / Refused | Margin of error | Sample | Conducted by | Polling type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | Dem/Dem lean | 76% | 19% | 5% | 3.2% | 1,230 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews |
| Democrat | 73% | 22% | 5% | 777 adults | Pew Research Center | |||
| May 1, 2018 – May 10, 2018 | Democrats | 83% | 4% | 1,024 adults | Gallup | Telephone interviews | ||
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | Independent | 70% | 26% | 5% | 989 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | |
| May 1, 2018 – May 10, 2018 | Independents | 71% | 4% | 1,024 adults | Gallup | Telephone interviews | ||
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | Rep/Rep lean | 47% | 48% | 5% | 3.5% | 1,050 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews |
| Republican | 40% | 54% | 5% | 612 adults | Pew Research Center | |||
| May 1, 2018 – May 10, 2018 | Republicans | 44% | 4% | 1,024 adults | Gallup | Telephone interviews | ||
By political affiliation by generation
| Date(s) conducted | Political affiliation by generation |
Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Don't Know / Refused | Margin of error | Sample | Conducted by | Polling type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic Millennials | 87% | 12% | 2% | 344 adults | ||||
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | Democratic Gen Xers | 76% | 18% | 5% | 268 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | |
| Democratic Baby Boomers | 70% | 26% | 4% | 463 adults | ||||
| Democratic Silents | 56% | 31% | 13% | 140 adults | ||||
| Republican Millennials | 60% | 38% | 2% | 198 adults | ||||
| Republican Gen Xers | 51% | 43% | 6% | 215 adults | ||||
| Republican Baby Boomers | 42% | 53% | 6% | 421 adults | ||||
| Republican Silents | 29% | 62% | 9% | 188 adults | ||||
By political affiliation by ideology
| Date(s) conducted | Political affiliation by ideology |
Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Don't Know / Refused | Margin of error | Sample | Conducted by | Polling type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | Conservative Rep/Lean Rep | 39% | 55% | 6% | 698 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | |
| Liberal Dem/Lean Dem | 66% | 27% | 7% | 617 adults | ||||
| Moderate/Cons Dem/Lean Dem | 88% | 10% | 2% | 613 adults | ||||
| Moderate/Lib Rep/Lean Rep | 63% | 33% | 4% | 352 adults | ||||
By religious affiliation
| Date(s) conducted | Religious affiliation | State sanctioned same-sex marriage should be valid / Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage |
Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Don't Know / Refused | Margin of error | Sample | Conducted by | Polling type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 3, 2017 – May 7, 2017 | Catholics | 65% | 4% | Gallup | Telephone interviews | |||
| Protestants/Christians (nonspecific) | 55% | |||||||
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | Total Catholic | 67% | 28% | 6% | 502 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | |
| Total Protestant | 48% | 46% | 6% | 1,165 adults | ||||
| Total Unaffiliated | 85% | 10% | 4% | 597 adults | ||||
By religious attendance
| Date(s) conducted | Religious attendance | Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Don't Know / Refused | Margin of error | Sample | Conducted by | Polling type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | Less than weekly | 75% | 20% | 5% | 1,619 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | |
| August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 | Monthly | 59% | 2.82% | 204 adults | NBC News / Wall Street Journal | Live interviews and cell phone interviews | ||
| Never | 80% | 288 adults | ||||||
| Weekly | 37% | 384 adults | ||||||
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | Weekly or more | 39% | 56% | 6% | 863 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | |
| August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 | Yearly | 70% | 2.82% | 312 adults | NBC News / Wall Street Journal | Live interviews and cell phone interviews | ||
Regional, state, and local level polls
By state, federal district, or territory
| Date(s) conducted | State, federal district, or territory |
Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Don't Know / Refused | Sample | Conducted by | Polling type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2017 – December 23, 2017 | Alabama | 41% | 51% | 8% | 624 adults | Public Religion Research Institute | Telephone interviews and cell phone interviews |
| Alaska | 57% | 34% | 9% | 156 adults | |||
| Arizona | 63% | 28% | 9% | 792 adults | |||
| Arkansas | 52% | 38% | 10% | 340 adults | |||
| California | 66% | 23% | 11% | 3,942 adults | |||
| Colorado | 71% | 21% | 8% | 631 adults | |||
| Connecticut | 73% | 20% | 7% | 385 adults | |||
| Delaware | 58% | 27% | 15% | 167 adults | |||
| Florida | 61% | 30% | 9% | 2,495 adults | |||
| Georgia | 52% | 39% | 9% | 1,186 adults | |||
| Hawaii | 68% | 20% | 12% | 163 adults | |||
| Idaho | 56% | 32% | 12% | 264 adults | |||
| Illinois | 65% | 25% | 10% | 1,387 adults | |||
| Indiana | 58% | 34% | 8% | 928 adults | |||
| Iowa | 59% | 33% | 8% | 500 adults | |||
| Kansas | 57% | 37% | 6% | 372 adults | |||
| Kentucky | 51% | 42% | 7% | 559 adults | |||
| Louisiana | 48% | 44% | 8% | 578 adults | |||
| Maine | 71% | 25% | 4% | 198 adults | |||
| Maryland | 66% | 25% | 9% | 700 adults | |||
| Massachusetts | 80% | 13% | 7% | 698 adults | |||
| Michigan | 63% | 29% | 8% | 1,354 adults | |||
| Minnesota | 67% | 27% | 6% | 787 adults | |||
| Mississippi | 42% | 48% | 10% | 303 adults | |||
| Missouri | 58% | 35% | 7% | 845 adults | |||
| Montana | 57% | 37% | 6% | 195 adults | |||
| Nebraska | 54% | 33% | 13% | 285 adults | |||
| Nevada | 70% | 23% | 7% | 491 adults | |||
| New Hampshire | 73% | 23% | 5% | 181 adults | |||
| New Jersey | 68% | 23% | 9% | 979 adults | |||
| New Mexico | 63% | 30% | 7% | 304 adults | |||
| New York | 69% | 24% | 7% | 2,548 adults | |||
| North Carolina | 49% | 41% | 10% | 1,385 adults | |||
| North Dakota | 53% | 35% | 12% | 157 adults | |||
| Ohio | 61% | 33% | 6% | 1,524 adults | |||
| Oklahoma | 53% | 36% | 11% | 434 adults | |||
| Oregon | 67% | 25% | 8% | 664 adults | |||
| Pennsylvania | 64% | 27% | 9% | 1,792 adults | |||
| Rhode Island | 78% | 17% | 5% | 164 adults | |||
| South Carolina | 53% | 37% | 10% | 608 adults | |||
| South Dakota | 52% | 37% | 11% | 165 adults | |||
| Tennessee | 46% | 45% | 9% | 808 adults | |||
| Texas | 55% | 34% | 11% | 2,813 adults | |||
| Utah | 54% | 38% | 8% | 370 adults | |||
| Vermont | 80% | 16% | 4% | 168 adults | |||
| Virginia | 60% | 32% | 8% | 1,120 adults | |||
| Washington | 73% | 21% | 6% | 1,036 adults | |||
| West Virginia | 48% | 45% | 7% | 282 adults | |||
| Wisconsin | 66% | 26% | 6% | 855 adults | |||
| Wyoming | 62% | 30% | 8% | 170 adults | |||
| District of Columbia | 78% | 17% | 4% | 799 adults | Public Religion Research Institute |
By metro area
| Date(s) conducted | Metro area | Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Don't Know / Refused | Margin of error | Sample | Conducted by | Polling type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2017 – December 23, 2017 | Atlanta | 57% | 33% | 10% | 0.6% | 631 adults | Public Religion Research Institute | Telephone interviews and cell phone interviews |
| Boston | 82% | 11% | 7% | 445 adults | ||||
| Charlotte | 55% | 37% | 8% | 290 adults | ||||
| Chicago | 68% | 22% | 10% | 970 adults | ||||
| Cincinnati | 60% | 34% | 6% | 306 adults | ||||
| Cleveland | 69% | 25% | 6% | 268 adults | ||||
| Columbus | 60% | 33% | 7% | 246 adults | ||||
| Dallas | 54% | 36% | 10% | 710 adults | ||||
| Denver | 71% | 19% | 10% | 297 adults | ||||
| Detroit | 67% | 26% | 7% | 539 adults | ||||
| Houston | 55% | 30% | 15% | 584 adults | ||||
| Indianapolis | 64% | 30% | 6% | 285 adults | ||||
| Kansas City | 62% | 31% | 7% | 279 adults | ||||
| Las Vegas | 70% | 23% | 7% | 360 adults | ||||
| Los Angeles | 65% | 25% | 12% | 1,176 adults | ||||
| Miami | 63% | 25% | 12% | 618 adults | ||||
| Milwaukee | 68% | 25% | 7% | 222 adults | ||||
| Minneapolis–Saint Paul | 73% | 23% | 5% | 474 adults | ||||
| Nashville | 52% | 39% | 9% | 182 adults | ||||
| New York City | 69% | 23% | 8% | 2,314 adults | ||||
| Orlando | 64% | 26% | 10% | 242 adults | ||||
| Philadelphia | 69% | 21% | 10% | 805 adults | ||||
| Phoenix | 62% | 30% | 8% | 501 adults | ||||
| Pittsburgh | 69% | 25% | 6% | 372 adults | ||||
| Portland | 72% | 23% | 5% | 347 adults | ||||
| San Francisco | 76% | 17% | 7% | 472 adults | ||||
| Seattle | 80% | 13% | 7% | 464 adults | ||||
| St. Louis | 62% | 30% | 8% | 422 adults | ||||
| Tampa-St. Petersburg | 58% | 30% | 12% | 402 adults | ||||
| Washington, DC | 69% | 22% | 9% | 799 adults | ||||
By region
| Date(s) conducted | Region | Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage / Support state sanctioned same-sex marriage |
Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage | Don't Know / Refused / No answer |
Margin of error | Sample | Conducted by | Polling type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2017 – December 23, 2017 | Midwest | 62% | 31% | 8% | 0.6% | Public Religion Research Institute | Telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | |
| August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 | 53% | 2.82% | NBC News / Wall Street Journal | Live interviews and cell phone interviews | ||||
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | 62% | 33% | 6% | 552 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | ||
| April 5, 2017 – December 23, 2017 | Northeast | 69% | 23% | 8% | 0.6% | Public Religion Research Institute | Telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | |
| August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 | 70% | 2.82% | NBC News / Wall Street Journal | Live interviews and cell phone interviews | ||||
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | 73% | 23% | 4% | 432 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | ||
| March 12, 2018 – March 25, 2018 | South[lower-alpha 1] | 55% | 42% | 3% | 2.4% | 4,132 adult residents | NBC News / SurveyMoney | Online survey |
| April 5, 2017 – December 23, 2017 | West | 66% | 26% | 9% | 0.6% | Public Religion Research Institute | Telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | |
| August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 | 67% | 2.82% | NBC News / Wall Street Journal | Live interviews and cell phone interviews | ||||
| June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 | 68% | 28% | 4% | 577 adults | Pew Research Center | Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews | ||
See also
Notes
- Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia
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