POLL ANALYSES August 22, 2002
New York Times Policy Focuses Attention on Homosexual Civil Unions A slight majority of Americans now oppose same-sex unions
by Frank Newport and Joseph Carroll
GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- The issue of society's reaction to formalized unions between gay and lesbian partners was thrust back into the news this past week when The New York Times said it will begin to publish announcements of same-sex commitment ceremonies next month along with its traditional wedding announcements.
Major Conclusions
The new policy, as The Times acknowledged, hits squarely in the middle of one of the more controversial areas of American public opinion. There is no overwhelming consensus on either side of the issue among the American public. In the latest Gallup poll on this subject, conducted in May, 46% of those interviewed favored the idea of allowing homosexual couples to form civil unions with some of the legal rights enjoyed by married couples, while 51% opposed the idea. The gap had been as wide as 12 percentage points in October 2000.
Americans are more clearly opposed to the concept of full-fledged marriage, with all of the associated rights, for homosexual couples. Gallup's last reading on this, from January 2000, found only 34% of Americans in favor of this, while 62% were opposed.
There are predictable differences in opinion on the issue of same-sex unions by political party and ideology. The strongest demographic difference occurs by age, with younger Americans much more in favor than older Americans.
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