Record-High 6 in 10 Americans Support Marriage Equality, Poll Finds

According to Freedom to Marry, nearly 72 percent of the U.S. population lives in a state currently issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. There are now just 13 states without marriage equality. (Photo: Tony Webster/flickr/cc)

Record-High 6 in 10 Americans Support Marriage Equality, Poll Finds

Results come just days before oral arguments at U.S. Supreme Court

As proponents of marriage equality prepare to argue their case before the U.S. Supreme Court next week, a record-high 6 in 10 Americans say they support same-sex marriage, according to a new poll by the Washington Post and ABC News.

Sixty-one percent of poll respondents said they support allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally, and an almost identical percentage said they oppose allowing individual states to prohibit same-sex marriages. Lastly, 62 percent said they support requiring states to recognize same-sex marriages performed legally in other states.

The poll, which has a margin of error of 3.5 percent, was conducted between April 16-20, among a random national sample of 1,016 adults.

According to Freedom to Marry, nearly 72 percent of the U.S. population lives in a state currently issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. There are now just 13 states without marriage equality.

Next Tuesday, lawyers will give oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court in marriage equality cases from four states--Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. The outcome of these cases will decide the fate of same-sex marriage on a national level, once and for all.

Nearly 400 major American companies; a broad range of religious groups and 2,000 individual clergy members; 226 mayors and an additional 40 cities; and more than 300 conservatives and Republicans have signed onto pro-marriage amicus briefs filed with the Supreme Court in advance of the hearing.

"The road that we've all traveled to get here has been built by so many people who believe that marriage is a fundamental right," said Mary Bonauto, civil rights project director for Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, who will argue on behalf of several plaintiffs on Tuesday. "Same-sex couples should not be excluded from the joy, the security, and the full citizenship signified by that institution. I believe the Court will give us a fair hearing, and I look forward to the day when all LGBT Americans will be able to marry the person they love."

Join Us: News for people demanding a better world


Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place.

We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference.

Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today!

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.