[lbo-talk] Fwd: Public Opinion on Homosexuality & Gay Marriage

[Doug Henwood]

> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 2, 2006
> NEW STUDY FROM AEI:
>
> ATTITUDES ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY AND GAY MARRIAGE
> Next week, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) plans to  
> introduce a Constitutional amendment that defines marriage as a  
> union between one man and one woman. AEI resident fellow Karlyn  
> Bowman(bio) has compiled a comprehensive collection of polls on  
> attitudes toward homosexuality and gay marriage.
> Among the highlights of the study:
>
> Eighty-nine percent of Americans believe that homosexuals should  
> have equal rights in terms of job opportunities. In 1977, 56  
> percent felt that way.
>
> Attitudes toward homosexuality as a lifestyle have also changed  
> since Gallup started polling on the subject in 1982. That year, 34  
> percent of those surveyed said that homosexuality should be  
> considered an acceptable alternative lifestyle. In May 2006, 54  
> percent gave that response.
>
> Americans do not favor legally recognizing marriage between  
> homosexuals as if it were a traditional marriage. Roughly six in  
> ten Americans believe that gay marriage should not be recognized by  
> the law as valid.
>
> Americans are divided about a constitutional amendment to bar gay  
> marriage. Fifty percent supported such an amendment according to a  
> May 2006 Gallup survey while 47 percent opposed it.
>
> The country is also split on the subject of allowing gay and  
> lesbian couples to adopt a child, with 49 percent favoring the idea  
> in a new ABC News/Time poll and 48 percent opposed. In 1977, 14  
> percent favored gay adoption.
>
> To read the full study, please click here <http://www.aei.org/ 
> research/politicalCorner/publications/pubID.14882/pub_detail.asp>.
>
>
> [...]