FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: John Becker, Director of Communications
Phone: 920.265.6023
Email: john@truthwinsout.org
Findings Confirm America Has Passed a Tipping Point on LGBT Rights, Says TWO
BURLINGTON, Vt – Truth Wins Out cheered the results of a poll released today showing that strong support for marriage equality has eclipsed strong opposition for the first time. The survey, conducted by ABC News and the Washington Post, revealed that Americans believe same-sex couples should be able to legally marry by a margin of 53 percent to 39 percent. Of those in favor, 39 percent said they “strongly supported” marriage equality; only 32 percent of equality opponents reported feeling strongly about the issue.
“Today’s results confirm what groups like Truth Wins Out and polling analysts across the political spectrum have been saying for a long time: we have passed a cultural tipping point on LGBT rights,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “As ever-increasing numbers of Americans embrace marriage equality, a freedom that seemed unthinkable just fifteen years ago is now within our grasp. Equality for LGBT people is no longer a matter of ‘if,’ but ‘when.’”
Other notable findings in the ABC/Post poll include a high number of Americans – 70 percent overall and 80 percent of young adults and people with college degrees – reporting knowing someone who is gay or lesbian; among those who do, 59 percent support full marriage equality. While half of seniors are strongly opposed to equal marriage rights for same-sex couples, nearly 70 percent of adults under 30 support it. Additionally, the survey found that support for marriage equality among African-Americans has reached an all-time high of 59 percent.
“These numbers, along with high-profile declarations of support for marriage equality from leaders and groups as diverse as President Barack Obama, Jay-Z, General Colin Powell, and the NAACP, should forever dispel the toxic myth that the African American community is anti-gay,” said John Becker, TWO’s Director of Communications. “Shameful efforts by right-wing groups like the so-called National Organization for Marriage to turn marriage equality into a ‘wedge between gays and blacks’ have failed miserably.”
Pollsters also note that statistics about the visibility of the LGBT community and public opinion on marriage equality have changed dramatically over a short time. As recently as 1998, only 59 percent of Americans said they had an LGBT friend, family member, or acquaintance. Opposition to marriage equality is at its lowest point since 2004, and support is at an all-time high.
“A majority of Americans are on our side – the side of justice, the side of equality, the side of American values, and the right side of history – and that majority grows every day,” said Becker. “While painful potholes undoubtedly remain along the road to LGBT equality, the traffic is flowing in only one direction.”
Truth Wins Out is a nonprofit organization that fights anti-LGBT extremism. TWO specializes in turning information into action by organizing, advocating and fighting for LGBT equality.
– 30 –
John said ” Additionally, the survey found that support for marriage equality among African-Americans has reached an all-time high of 59 percent.”.
That statment must be in error. Black support for marriage equality cannot be higher than support for marriage equality by Americans as a whole.
Well, I double-checked the survey, and that’s what it said, but that number is drastically higher than Black support has been in the past so I believe there’s an error in the poll or some sort of incongruity.
Why is the polling question never “Should marriage be between a man and a woman?” This would address the issue more directly.
No Jeremiah, that question would completely distort the issue, thus why it’s never the one asked.
Wrong Jeremiah. If someone asked me “Should marriage be between a man and a woman?” I’d answer yes. I’d also answer yes to the question “Should marriage be between two men?”. Just because one supports marriage between men and women does not mean one opposes it between same sex couples.
If you want to know whether or not same sex couples should be allowed to marry you have to ask “Should same sex couples be allowed to marry?”.
Priya Lynn, excellent point!
The questions needs to be “Should marriage be ‘only’ be between a man and a woman?” or as you suggested “Should same-sex couples be allowed to marry?”
And now I came across this…
“About 4 in 10, or 38 percent, of Americans support same-sex marriage, while 24 percent favor civil unions short of formal marriage. Thirty-three percent oppose any form of legal recognition. When civil unions are eliminated as an option, opposition to same-sex marriage rises to 51 percent, compared with 42 percent support.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/us/politics/poll-sees-obama-gay-marriage-support-motivated-by-politics.html
Why is there so much disparity in polling numbers…!?!
@JeremiahA. Because marriage between a man and a woman is already legal. Stop trying the deflection tactics.
Jeremiah said “6.Priya Lynn, excellent point!
The questions needs to be “Should marriage be ‘only’ be between a man and a woman?” or as you suggested “Should same-sex couples be allowed to marry?””.
Jeremiah, the question WAS “Should same sex couples be allowed to marry?”.
Marital Equality
Apparently there are different marriages that are treated unequally. It would seem to me–that if a couple is legally married, they ought have the same status as another couple who is legally married.
Jeremiah, heterosexual couples can already get married. Why would that even be a question? No one is trying to stop heterosexuals from getting married. Legalizing marriage for same sex couples would make marriage between heterosexual couples illegal. Are you really that dumb?
Daniel, Jeremiah wants to see the question be about heterosexuals so that way when people respond they won’t be thinking directly about whether or not gays should be allowed to marry and respondents are more likely to give an answer that he could interpret as their opposition to letting gays marry.