Constitutional Law, Courts, Politics, Religion, Society

Poll: Over Sixty Percent Of Americans Support Gay Marriage

Wedding_cake_with_pillar_supports,_2009There is good news for those of us who support same-sex marriage (as well as an indication in the remarkable turnaround in public attitude in a relatively short time). According to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, 6 out of 10 Americans now support same-sex marriage and believe that states should not be allowed to define marriage as only between a man and a woman. That is a record showing for same-sex marriage.

The poll was clearly timed for oral arguments next week on whether state restrictions on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional. I believe that there is likely a fifth vote with Justice Anthony Kennedy to support a ruling in favor of same-sex marriage. Indeed, it will be interesting to watch Chief Justice John Roberts on this issue. Roberts has shown a strong institutional sensitivity and many be the most likely of the remaining justices to feel the pull of history on the issue.

Not surprisingly, the greatest gains have been seen in those under age 30 where support has grown since 2005 from 57 percent to 78 percent. However, even among the historically least supportive group (those 65 and over) support is now at 46 percent (from just 18 percent).

Republicans still oppose at a rate of 6 to 10, however. This creates an interesting dynamic for the Republican primary where some candidates have already shown movement toward greater acceptance. The trend appears in that direction. Moreover, GOP candidates face the classic dilemma of fighting to secure the nomination from the most conservative members of the party while being able to run nationally to appeal to independents and democrats. The social agenda of conservative Republicans has never appealed to as much to independents and libertarians in the general election.

Source: Washington Post

325 thoughts on “Poll: Over Sixty Percent Of Americans Support Gay Marriage”

  1. Another thing the Supreme Court may consider, is it fair to married gay service members with or without children to have their marriage be illegal when they get stationed in a different state, which happens frequently in the careers of military members? What a way to honor and respect those who serve.

  3. Here’s one of those gay soldiers.

    Lieutenant Colonel Loomis is now retired in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is the President of the Bataan Chapter of American Veterans for Equal Rights. As a teenager he became an Eagle Scout. He is a graduate of the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor’s in Journalism. During his military career he served in the Infantry and Engineer branches and was awarded:

    Combat Infantry Badge
    Bronze Star for Valor
    Bronze Star for Service
    Purple Heart
    Meritorious Service Medal – 4th award
    Air Medal
    Army Commendation Medal – 2d award
    Army Achievement Medal – 2d award
    Good Conduct Medal
    Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal
    National Defense Service Medal w/1st Star
    Vietnam Service Medal
    Armed Forces Reserve Medal
    Army Service Ribbon
    Vietnam Campaign Ribbon

    http://www.gaymilitarysignal.com/0810Loomis.html

  6. And they accuse me of being uncivil. Wow. Squeeky @3:26. Talk about toxic.

  7. “we should be in other peoples business damning them for their personal relationships. Contrary to Christ’s teaching.”

    Oh, you mean like a baker deciding if she’ll enter a contractual relationship with a client for a wedding?

  8. @Max-1

    i think when Jesus wants you on your knees, it’s to pray, not to provide oral pleasures to some stranger you just met in a public restroom. I think that s somewhere in the Book of Phellations maybe???

    Squeeky Fromm
    Girl Reporter

  9. jimnjoy
    Funny thing is Jesus was all about making sure we don’t stray into judging others… Yet I read you insisting that he was wrong and that we should be in other peoples business damning them for their personal relationships. Contrary to Christ’s teaching.

    Like I said above, you can cite Leviticus and Paul all you want to justify deciding who should go to hell, all the while denying Gods role. Sure He via man said gays should be killed. However Jesus was clear…

  10. I’m pretty sure after much deliberation, the Supremes, at least five of them will be laughing at that too.

  11. Unless you meant the quote from ‘The Deconstruction of Marriage’
    by Daniel Greenfield.
    But that was written just a few days ago and never ‘debunked.’

    Or were you thinking about the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival that has to close this year (it’s 40th) because they won’t admit transgenders?
    how was that debunked?

  12. Debunked?
    The quote on abortion was from a new amicus brief filed by “100 Scholars of Marriage”, submitted in the same-sex marriage case, Obergefell v. Hodges, slated for Supreme Court oral argument next Tuesday (Apr. 28).

  13. Pogo, Pogo, Pogo

    You are resorting to stuff that has been debunked and is now laughable. Sour grapes.

  14. @Pogo

    Well, I would not worry about the big, mean gay guys, but like my father said, now every little twink that wants to join up can get in! Where they can be around manly men all day long! Chelsea Manning anyone??? Anyway, a homophobic Irish Poem!

    The Twink Defense???
    An Irish Poem by Squeeky Fromm

    Oh, pity the poor gay brigade-
    “Gainst the forces of ISIS arrayed!
    As they flit, and they flitter
    With bombs made of glitter,
    Shades of Little Big Horn, I’m afraid!

    Squeeky Fromm
    Girl Reporter

  16. @Pogo

    Which, thinking about Zeno, and his pair of docs, made me think of an Irish Poem! I am not bragging here, or saying this with any ego, but this really is a damn fine high-class and sophisticated philosophical poem, and it is a crying out loud shame that posterity will not remember it.

    <b<Splitting Hares???
    An Irish Poem by Squeeky Fromm

    The hard thing about deconstruction. . .
    Is avoiding absurdio reduction!
    For the wee building blocks
    Of a good paradox,
    Highly skews towards logical induction!

    Squeeky Fromm
    Girl Reporter

    Notes: Reductio ad absurdum is a mode of argumentation that seeks to establish a contention by deriving an absurdity from its denial, thus arguing that a thesis must be accepted because its rejection would be untenable. It is a style of reasoning that has been employed throughout the history of mathematics and philosophy from classical antiquity onwards.

    Inductive arguments can take very wide ranging forms. Inductive arguments might conclude with some claim about a group based only on information from a sample of that group. Other inductive arguments draw conclusions by appeal to evidence or authority or causal relationships. Here is a somewhat strong inductive argument based on authority:

    Both can be found here:

    http://www.iep.utm.edu/

    Simply search the website, or go to the alphabetical index.

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