(An excellent analysis of recent polling numbers on marriage equality in CT. - promoted by tparty)
Today the Hartford Courant released
a public opinion poll suggesting that the state is split on
marriage equality for gays and lesbians, with 49% favoring legal
recognition of same-sex marriage and 46% opposing it, a difference that
falls within the 4.4% margin of error. Dividing lines on this
issue include religiosity (church attendance), perception of marriage
as a religious or civil institution, and party affiliation.
A strong majority of 62% support civil unions.
Here party affiliation drops away as a divider, says
the Courant - 70% of Republicans and 69% of Democrats support civil
unions. (This suggests that unaffiliated voters are far more
likely to oppose civil unions, if 62% is the average - either
a curious anomoly or an error.)
At the same time, the public says they accept homosexuality, at least
as long as they're on the phone with a pollster. Nearly
two-thirds said homosexuality is always acceptable or acceptable for
some people. An overwhelming 84% believe that homosexuals
should have all of the same rights or priviliges as heterosexuals
(though for some, these rights do not extend to civil
marriage).
Below I've summarized past poll findings, trends, and other interesting
results. Given the poll findings; the gradual if uneven
growth in the acceptance of civil unions, marriage equality, and
homosexuality; and the electoral success of marriage equality
supporters, state legislators and the Governor should expect little in
the way of backlash if they should decide to do the right thing and
support marriage equality. The findings also suggest
that a focus on marriage as a civil institution, extending equal rights
to gays, eliminating "separate but equal" status, recognizing the legal
status of marriages from other states, and the support of clergy and
faith groups will continue to turn the tide in favor of equality.
(Caveats: Questions were not phrased the same way by
both polling organizations, and comparing polls from different sources
is dicey, but what the heck.)
Support
for civil unions
Quinn
Oct 03
UCONN
Apr 04
Quinn
June 04
Quinn
Apr 05
UCONN
Apr 06
Support
51%
64%
59%
56%
62%
Oppose
43%
24%
35%
37%
30%
A modest but uneven upward trend. The 2004 UCONN poll looks
like an outlier. Civil unions were approved in April 2005. Opponents will continue to claim that the tide is turning in their favor. They will continue to be wrong.
Support for same-sex
marriage
Quinn
Oct 03
UCONN
Apr 04
Quinn
June 04
Quinn
Apr 05
UCONN
Apr 06
Support
44%
49%
45%
42%
49%
Oppose
50%
46%
50%
53%
46%
Again, modest and uneven trend upward, not yet hitting
majority.
Preference - marriage,
civil unions, or no legal recognition for same-sex couples
UCONN
Apr 04
Quinn
Feb 07
Marriage
32%
39%
Civil
unions
41%
33%
No
recognition
25%
22%
A growing number favor marriage over civil unions. A
plurality now favor marriage, and a majority (72%) favor legal
recognition of same-sex relationships. A majority of young
people (56%) ages 18-34 prefer marriage equality. Women (44%)
were more likely than men (33%), and Dems (53%) were more likely than
Republicans (22%) or Independents (38%) to favor marriage.
Dividing lines
In the Courant/UCONN CSRA poll:
Opposition to same-sex marriage was highest (67%) among
those who say they attend church once a week. This finding is
consistent with previous Connecticut polls - a 2003 Quinnipiac poll
found the same percentage of weekly attendees opposed.
Only 36% of Republicans support marriage equality, compared
to 54% of Democrats and 52% of unaffiliated residents.
However, according to the poll, the partisan divide drops
when it comes to civil unions -- 70% of Republicans and 69% of
Democrats support them.
Those who consider marriage a "religious matter"
are likely to oppose gay marriage (61% oppose), while those
who view it as a "civil or legal matter" are likely to support
gay marrage (65% support).
The findings point to the importance of the support of clergy and faith
groups, reinforcing the civil nature of marriage,
highlighting the separation of church and state, and (where
possible) the vocal support of Republicans.
Acceptance of
homosexuality
Despite some ambivalence on marriage and civil unions, the public
strongly supports the acceptance of homosexuality and equal rights for
gays and lesbians. In the Courant/UCONN CSRA poll:
Nearly two-thirds said homosexuality is always acceptable
or acceptable
for some people. (37% always acceptable, 26% acceptable for
some, 20% unacceptable but "tolerated", 12% unacceptable and "not
tolerated."
An overwhelming 84% believe that homosexuals should
have all of the same rights or priviliges as heterosexuals (though for
some, these rights do not extend to civil marriage).
(64% strongly should, 20% somewhat should, 4% somewhat should
not, 8% strongly should not.)
This represents a dramatic and encouraging shift toward a more
accepting attitude - or at least greater embarrassment at admitting
prejudice to a pollster. In 2003, a Quinnipiac
poll found that only 44% of state residents thought
"homosexual
behavior is morally acceptable," while 41% found it "morally wrong."
Building on this support for equal rights, supporters should highlight the fundamental unfairness and injustice of second class, "separate but equal" status for gays and lesbians.
Opposition to laws
banning gay marriage
In a 2004 UCONN CSRA poll, a majority of Connecticut residents opposed
the idea of the Connecticut government passing legislation defining
marriage as being between a man and a woman, thereby banning marriages
between gay and lesbian couples (53% opposed, 39% supported).
Despite this opposition, when civil unions were approved in
2005, the state legislature did pass a "DOMA" amendment to the bill
declaring marriage to be between a man and a woman. In a 2004
Quinnipiac poll, two thirds of residents (65%) opposed amending the
U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.
Recognizing same-sex
civil unions and marriages from other states
In 2004, long before civil unions were passed, most residents believed
that civil unions and marriages from other states should be legally
recognized in Connecticut. A strong majority in a UCONN CSRA
poll (61%) believed that if a same-sex couple enters into a civil union
in one state, then moves to another state, that other state should be
required to recognize that civil union as legal. There was
also support for recognizing same-sex marriages from other states (52%
in UCONN CSRA, 50% in Quinnipiac.)
Even some who don't support civil unions or marriage equality can
understand the basic fairness of recognizing marriages from other
states.
Take action
Contact
your legislators to express your support for marriage
equality and for recognition of same-sex marriages from other states.
Sources:
Hartford
Courant - UCONN CSRA 2007 (full results and questions not
online)
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