Gay marriage: Coming soon to a country near you
At first glance, it might seem like a confirmation for those who oppose giving gay couples the right to marry. According to a new poll by the Pew Research Center, only 42 percent of Americans support such a step, while 48 percent are opposed.
But if you look at the trend line, you can clearly see where this is headed. In fact, the data reflect a rather remarkable shift in public opinion in a pretty short time period, and the pace of change is accelerating rather than slowing.
As Pew reports:
“For the first time in 15 years of Pew Research Center polling, fewer than half oppose same-sex marriage.
The shift in opinion on same-sex marriage has been broad-based, occurring across many demographic, political and religious groups. Notably, pluralities of white mainline Protestants and white Catholics now favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally – the first time this has occurred in Pew Research Center surveys. Political independents are divided in their views of same-sex-marriage; in 2009, they opposed it by a wide margin.”
To some degree, the Pew numbers reflect a changing of generations — only 29 percent of those born between 1928 and 1945 support gay marriage, for example, compared to 53 percent of those born since 1980. That trend will no doubt continue. However, opinions are shifting relatively quickly even within that older demographic. In 1996, only 20 percent of those born between 1928 and 1945 supported gay marriage — in other words, support within that demographic group has almost doubled in less than 15 years.
The Pew poll reports a similar trend regarding the right of gay Americans to serve openly in the military. Sixty percent now support the right of gays to serve, with only 30 percent opposed.
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© 2012 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
533 comments Add your comment
jm
October 7th, 2010
2:30 pm
First?
jm
October 7th, 2010
2:33 pm
“In 1996, only 20 percent of those born between 1928 and 1945 supported gay marriage — in other words, support within that demographic group has almost doubled in less than 15 years.”
So if you’re more tolerant, you live longer? Survivorship bias?
Tell your doctor – if you’re tolerant you live longer.
Tommy Maddox
October 7th, 2010
2:34 pm
Time to start playing “Born Free”.
stands for decibels
October 7th, 2010
2:35 pm
I can’t wait until twenty, thirty years from now, when conservatives will be claiming it was their efforts that finally brought about marriage equality and an end to exempting the military from discriminatory hiring practices.
Doggone/GA
October 7th, 2010
2:35 pm
“Tell your doctor – if you’re tolerant you live longer.”
There could very well be some truth in that. Hatred and fear are very stressful…and excess stress can shorten your life.
Granny Godzilla
October 7th, 2010
2:36 pm
stands
thanks for the chuckle.
the truth is sometimes so very funny.
jm
October 7th, 2010
2:36 pm
“In 1996, only 20 percent of those born between 1928 and 1945 supported gay marriage — in other words, support within that demographic group has almost doubled in less than 15 years.”
Ok, if not survivorship bias, then as the “swift boat folks” would say: FLIP FLOPPERS!
Who’s allowed to change their mind in this town. Absurd…..
jm
October 7th, 2010
2:38 pm
Doggone – afraid it’s neither survivorship bias or flip flopping. Just a demographic shift (different set of – more liberal minded – folks in that age bracket).
StJ
October 7th, 2010
2:40 pm
Pew also did a study concluding that “Growing Number of Americans Say Obama is a Muslim”. I suppose that gap is closing quickly too.
Doggone/GA
October 7th, 2010
2:41 pm
This seems appropriate! “A gay rights group is asking people to flood a North Carolina state representative’s office with cereal after the Republican referred to gays as “queers” and “fruitloops” in an e-mail to other lawmakers”
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/07/n-c-republican-calls-gays-fruitloops-in-e-mail/?hpt=T2
jm
October 7th, 2010
2:42 pm
StJ:
Muslim: “one who submits (to God)”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim
Oh lordy. Wonder what happens to all those non-Muslims (the ones who apparently don’t submit to God) in the afterlife….
barking frog
October 7th, 2010
2:45 pm
Rightly called same-sex marriage this issue is where it should
be, in the Court. It is about Contract Law in that marriage is an
enforceable contract and the beginning and ending of the contract
at civil law begins with a judge.
Nice Guy
October 7th, 2010
2:46 pm
Doggone – ““A gay rights group is asking people to flood a North Carolina state representative’s office with cereal”
Well isn’t that clever. I suppose next, that same gay rights crowd will be scratching their heads as to why they get no respect.
Southern Comfort
October 7th, 2010
2:47 pm
LOL@ dB!!
Jay
We go from race to homosexuality. Is there some kinda office pool going on today?
The Leg Lamp is a "major award", much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel
October 7th, 2010
2:47 pm
Kind of like that Obamacare trend. At first, more people supposedly supported it. Now, the percent of those opposing it gets larger and larger.
The amazing trends we see in polls…..
barking frog
October 7th, 2010
2:49 pm
jm
October 7th, 2010
2:42 pm
Oh lordy. Wonder what happens to all those non-Muslims (the ones who apparently don’t submit to God) in the afterlife….
————————————-
….they have to go to church.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award", much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel
October 7th, 2010
2:49 pm
Southern Comfort
October 7th, 2010
2:47 pm
The next leap will be to global warming, climate change, global climate disruption or whatever the hell you want to call it.
Hey, I wonder if these “experts” are some of the same who are perpetuating the climate change myth.
“FORECASTERS BLOW IT: Despite dire predictions, hurricane season benign for USA..”
Mr. Snarky
October 7th, 2010
2:50 pm
Uh oh…my marriage seems pretty sound, but if Conservatives are to be believed, it will soon be undermined by giving Gays the right to marry. Better get a good divorce lawyer.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award", much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel
October 7th, 2010
2:51 pm
“Solar surprises raise questions for climate models… ”
Hmmmm. Maybe the fact that the sun is not going through its usual cooling cycle has something to do with warmer temperatures. You know, I’ve heard that radiation thingy can really heat things up. Wonder what Al Gore would say?
jm
October 7th, 2010
2:51 pm
SoCo – next up. Gender equality….
Peadawg
October 7th, 2010
2:52 pm
“Gay marriage: Coming soon to a country near you”
Civil unions, absolutely. Marriage? God I hope not.
JohnnyReb
October 7th, 2010
2:53 pm
I am in the old white guy group who has traditionally opposed gays at every turn. I’m not yet a full convert, but don’t mind stating I have softened my stance. The recent incident where the college kid having gay sex broadcast over the net that resulted in his suicide caused me to do some deep thinking. I have to look really hard to find an aggression more serious. I kept thinking about his parents, who I am sure could care less if he was gay or not. They just want their boy back. If opposition to gay marriage is causing gays that kind of pain, then those of us who have or continue to oppose it need to rethink.
jm
October 7th, 2010
2:56 pm
Ok. Big question. If two gay guys get married, how’s that original sin thing work out?
Nevermind, back to work.
Southern Comfort
October 7th, 2010
2:57 pm
Leg Lamp & jm
I’d be willing to put money on a Palin column. We’re overdue for one of those.
Doggone/GA
October 7th, 2010
2:57 pm
“Civil unions, absolutely. Marriage? God I hope not”
Separate but equal has already been judged unconstitutional
barking frog
October 7th, 2010
2:59 pm
When Justice Scalia can say seriously that the Constitution
may not apply to women, since they are not mentioned, some
serious rethinking of our equality needs to be done.
Logical Dude
October 7th, 2010
3:00 pm
Peadawg,
Marriage IS a Civil Union. Many churches allow it already, so it shouldn’t be a matter of religious views. If you don’t like gay marriage, don’t have one.
Why the opposition to a simple word?
I really don’t see the difference to MY marriage if a loving couple wants to get married. More and more people realize this.
Also, I’m curious. . . Have they had a recent survey if blacks can marry whites? Not too long ago that was also illegal. Seems kinda silly to even ask that question doesn’t it?
Southern Comfort
October 7th, 2010
3:00 pm
JReb
I can respect that introspection. As for myself, I think the matter of marriage is for the church to decide. If it’s a government decision, it should be in relation to civil unions. Civil unions would more accurately decribe a contractual agreement between two people, and the government’s involvement, i.e. marriage certificates, constitute a contractual agreement.
Personally, I don’t care who marries whom. It does not have any effect on my marriage, and will not determine whether or not I get into heaven. For the life of me, I can’t begin to understand why others have invested so much energy into lives that have no bearing on their own.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award", much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel
October 7th, 2010
3:01 pm
Doggone/GA
October 7th, 2010
2:57 pm
So it’s unconstitutional for there to be “ladies” and “mens” restrooms?
jm
October 7th, 2010
3:02 pm
Well, after legalizing gay marriage, the only things I can see left on the marriage front are:
1. Legalizing Polygamy
2. Interspecies marriage
When do we get to legalize those? Should get interesting…
Matti
October 7th, 2010
3:03 pm
JohnnyReb @ 2:53,
I’m in the not-so-old white woman group who wants to give you a big hug for having the courage to re-think it, and for daring to look at the issue from somebody else’s perspective. On a day when the dark cloud of lost faith in fellow humans hung over me, your willingness to see another side pushes through like a little ray of sunshine. Thank you!
jm
October 7th, 2010
3:03 pm
For the record, I’m pretty sure there are some dudes down in South GA that are all up for legalizing #2….
The Leg Lamp is a "major award", much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel
October 7th, 2010
3:03 pm
jm
October 7th, 2010
3:02 pm
I don’t know about #2, but #1 could be legal shortly after Romney is inaugurated.
Granny Godzilla
October 7th, 2010
3:04 pm
JohnnyReb
What a wonderful post!
The Leg Lamp is a "major award", much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel
October 7th, 2010
3:04 pm
jm
October 7th, 2010
3:03 pm
I thought those were the guys who wanted to marry their sisters and cousins?
TGT
October 7th, 2010
3:06 pm
31 for 31. Polls are one thing, election results are another. Every state that has put gay marriage on a ballot has seen it soundly (with an average rejection rate of 68%) rejected. If anything we are closer to a constitutional amendment that would end the debate altogether.
jm
October 7th, 2010
3:06 pm
Leglamp 3:03 – why the hell not? Woohooo, wives and husbands galore for everyone!!
Wasn’t there some reality TV show about a polygamist “group” that aired a few weeks ago?
Bosch
October 7th, 2010
3:07 pm
stands,
For real. We need to start saving some quotes to pull out in that 30 year span.
Granny Godzilla
October 7th, 2010
3:08 pm
jm
“When do we get to legalize those? Should get interesting…”
When enough beast-o-sexuals come out of the barn and start a grassroots movement.
They could call themselves the Hay Party.
jm
October 7th, 2010
3:08 pm
Leglamp – i’m sure those folks are up for both. and if one’s legal, why not both?
By the way, if someone marries a guy, but also marries a woman, does that count as polygamy? I’m a little unclear on all this.
stands for decibels
October 7th, 2010
3:09 pm
I can respect that introspection.
[...]
What a wonderful post!
Yeah, I was trying to come up with an eloquent ways to “attaboy” Mr. Reb, but, those will do better than anything I can contribute.
stands for decibels
October 7th, 2010
3:09 pm
“An eloquent ways”? I are so artickyoulate.
jm
October 7th, 2010
3:09 pm
Granny G – now that’s funny
Bosch
October 7th, 2010
3:10 pm
“In 1996, only 20 percent of those born between 1928 and 1945 supported gay marriage”
Really — how much of this had to do with exposure to the idea? In 1996, of course, I was busy raising a bunch of little kids, mind you, but I don’t seem to remember anybody talking about this. I think the more the idea itself has been discussed, the more people tend to think along the lines of “what’s the big deal.” Of course there are the bigots like Scout still around.
midtownguy
October 7th, 2010
3:10 pm
From the “Will and Grace” children forward their is strong support for marriage equality. I am just trying to stay in good health and wait for 20 percent more “old christian conservatives” to either die off or see the reasonableness of it so I can marry my partner of 19 years.
He is much younger than me and I have the much better job with health and other retirement benefits. Had you rather I provide for him or the taxpayers after I am gone?
Bosch
October 7th, 2010
3:11 pm
“Of course there are the bigots like Scout still around”
Oh, and Peadawg, excuse me, left one out.
Cris
October 7th, 2010
3:11 pm
JohnnyReb,
I appreciate your post. I wish more people would look at these gay kids killing themselves (it’s been happening for quite some time) and realize homosexuality may not be a lifestyle choice…instead, it may just be the life they are given. We don’t know. And, according to many sources, we simply shouldn’t judge.
Prohibiting gays to serve their country openly (DADT) and insisting gays can not get married (DOMA) leads these kids to see themselves as second class citizens. And, in some cases, religions are certainly playing a role in portraying gays as absolute sinners and not even worthy of God’s love (unless, of course, they forcibly change themselves). If you are gay and you start to adopt the cruel view (of the world surrounding you) that gays are nothing more than sinners or perverts…why continue living? Why bother living a life when you are considered less than human?
I wish more people would open their hearts like you…and speak out. It may actually save lives.
Obummer
October 7th, 2010
3:12 pm
“you can clearly see where this is headed” ..kinda like the upcoming elections?
The Leg Lamp is a "major award", much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel
October 7th, 2010
3:12 pm
midtownguy
October 7th, 2010
3:10 pm
Hmm, I’d rather he get a job and provide for himself.
Mike
October 7th, 2010
3:12 pm
My husband & I have been together for 17 yrs & we married in Toronto in 2003. We are productive citizens & well liked in our community;I hope by being an out couple that younger gay kids will see a positive example & will take heart – there is a good future,even if the present is difficult.Please realize that marriage equality will only strengthen the institution.