Posted on 10/07/2010 2:41:57 PM PDT by Oshkalaboomboom
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.
I doesn’t matter what the law says. There is no debate. Gays cannot marry. Gay “marriage” will always have scare quotes or an asterisk. They can pretend they’re married. They can even call it “marriage”. They, and we, will always know better.
SnakeDoc
Your comment covers the issue, so far as me and mine are concerned.
These people will never be happy until they have reshaped this country into a venue that would make Caligula blush.
so where is the referenda? so far only protecting marriage referenda have been presented and passed.
if the AJC was serious they would have the voter initiative to back it up.
That is one rag I can’t wait to see die.
I don’t think any statistical analizing is going to change basic instinctual belief.Homosexuality is wrong by the laws of nature, laws of every religion ,laws of basic morality,laws of common sense,laws of biology and so you don’t get poop on your penis.Who can argue with that?Marrage is so couples can be fruitful and multiply,not so they can be fruits and adopt,ruining some poor kids life.I don’t care what a couple of gays do in the privacy of thier bedroom,but married with children. NO.
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