Public opinion of same-sex marriage in the United States

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Degree of public support for same-sex marriage by state in 2022:[1]
   80–83%
   70–79%
   60–69%
   50–59%
   49% (plurality support)

Public opinion of same-sex marriage in the United States has significantly changed since the 1990s,[2] and an overwhelming majority of Americans now favor same-sex marriage.[3]

Approval of same-sex marriage is higher in younger generations;[4] among 18–34 year olds, support is near-universal.[5] From 1988 to 2009, support for recognized same-sex marriage increased between 1% and 1.5% per year, and accelerated thereafter,[6] rising above 50% in Pew Research Center polling for the first time in 2011.[7] A 2022 Public Religion Research Institute poll found that a majority of people in every state support same-sex marriage except in Mississippi, where there is plurality support.[8]

A 2023 New York Times/Siena poll found that 70% of Americans support same-sex marriage and 22% oppose it.[9] Garretson (2018) writes: "The transformation of America's response to homosexuality has been — and continues to be — one of the most rapid and sustained shifts in mass attitudes since the start of public polling."[2]

Overview

Public opinion of same-sex marriage in the United States has changed radically since polling of the American people regarding the issue was first conducted in 1988.

Washington Post poll, conducted from April 21, 2009, to April 24, 2009, found that, for the first time, a plurality of Americans supported same-sex marriage at 49% and that a majority of Americans supported the marriages of same-sex couples validly entered into in one state being recognized in all states at 53%.[15] A CNN/Opinion Research poll, conducted from August 6, 2010, to August 10, 2010, found that, for the first time, a majority of Americans supported same-sex marriage at 52%.[16] A Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research poll, conducted from January 25, 2015 to January 31, 2015, found that, for the first time, 60% of Americans supported same-sex marriage.[17]

Continual polling by

Gallup over the course of more than two decades has shown that support for same-sex marriage has grown rapidly, while opposition has simultaneously collapsed. In 1996, 68% of Americans opposed same-sex marriage, while only 27% supported. In 2018, 67% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while only 31% opposed.[18] As of 2018, 60% of Americans said they would not mind if their child married someone of the same gender.[19]

National polls

Since Obergefell v. Hodges

2020–present

A 2023 New York Times/Siena poll found that 70% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 22% opposed it.[9]

A 2023 Gallup poll found that 71% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 28% opposed it.[20][21]

According to The Nation, a private poll conducted by Centerline Action before the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act in late 2022 found that 73 percent of Americans support same-sex marriage; the percentage of Americans opposed to same-sex marriage was not listed.[22]

A December 2022 Quinnipiac University poll found that 68% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 22 percent opposed it.[23]

A September 2022 Grinnell College National Poll found that 74% of Americans believe same-sex marriage should be a guaranteed right while 13% disagreed and 13% were uncertain.[24][25]

A May 2022

Gallup poll found that 71% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 28% were against.[21][26]

The 2022 American Values Atlas by Public Religion Research Institute found that 69% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 28% opposed it.[8]

A June 2021 CBS News/YouGov poll found that 64% of Americans supported same-sex marriage while 36% were opposed. Two-thirds of Republicans over age 45 are opposed, but the opinions of Republicans under age 45 are almost evenly split with 52% oppose and 48% support same sex marriage.[27]

An 2021 Public Religion Research Institute poll found that 67% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 32% were opposed.[3]

A June 2021

Gallup poll found that 70% of Americans supported same-sex marriage and 29% were against.[28]

A June 2020

Gallup poll
found that 67% of Americans supported same sex marriage, while 31% were against, matching their May 2018 record high.

A Public Religion Research Institute nationwide & state-by-state poll conducted in 2020 found that 67% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, 27% opposed, and 5% refused to answer or answered "don't know," with there being majority support for same-sex marriage in 46 states, and plurality support in 4 states.[1]

A 2020 American National Election Studies poll found that 66% of Americans supported legal recognition of same-sex marriage, 20% supported civil unions, while 14% of Americans were opposed to any legal recognition of same-sex relationships.[29]

2016–2019

A June 2019 CBS News poll found that 67% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 28% were against.[30]

A June 2019 IPSOS/Reuters poll found that 58% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 28% were against.[31]

A May 2019 Pew Research Center poll found 61% of Americans supported same-sex marriage while 31% were against.[32]

A May 2019

Gallup poll found that 63% of Americans supported same sex marriage, with 36% opposing it. While this is a drop when compared to 2018, same sex marriage approval still remains stable.[33]

A May 2018

Gallup poll found that 67% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, 31% opposed, and 2% had no opinion.[18]

An April 2018 NBC News poll found that 64% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, 33% opposed, and 3% had no opinion.[34] The poll was reported by NBC News as notable as it found that 55% of Southerners supported same-sex marriage, which represented an historic change for a region that was previously staunchly opposed.[35]

A Public Religion Research Institute nationwide & state-by-state poll conducted throughout 2017 found that 61% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, 30% opposed, and 9% refused to answer or answered "don't know," with there being majority support for same-sex marriage in 44 states, plurality support in 4 states, plurality opposition in 1 state, and majority opposition in 1 state.[36]

An August 2017 NBC News/The Wall Street Journal poll found that 60% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, 33% opposed, and 7% had no opinion.[37][38]

A June 2017

Baby Boomers supported same-sex marriage, did not oppose same-sex marriage.[39]

A May 2017

Protestants supported same-sex marriage.[40]

A May 2016

Gallup poll found 61% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, 37% opposed, and 2% had no opinion. This marked the first Gallup poll where a majority of Americans aged 65 and older supported same-sex marriage.[41]

Before Obergefell v. Hodges

2010–2015

2015

A May

Gallup poll found 60% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, 37% opposed, and 3% had no opinion.[42]

A February–March

Wall Street Journal poll found that 59% of Americans favored same-sex marriage.[43]

A January–February Human Rights Campaign poll found that 60% of Americans favored same-sex marriage, while 37% opposed. The same poll also found that 46% of respondents knew a same-sex couple who had gotten married.[17]

A February 12–15 CNN/ORC poll found that 63% of Americans believed same-sex marriage is a constitutional right, while 36% disagreed.[44]

2014

A May

Gallup poll found that 55% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, 42% opposed, and 4% had no opinion.[45]

An April Public Religion Research Institute poll sponsored by the Ford Foundation found that 55% of all Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 39% were opposed.[46]

A Pew Research Center poll released in March found 54% of Americans favored same-sex marriage, 39% opposed, and 7% didn't know.[47] It also researched support for same-sex marriage among Republican leaning voters in the United States. 61% of Republican leaning voters aged 18–29 supported allowing same-sex couples to marry, while only 27% of Republican leaning voters over 50 years of age were supportive.[48] 52% of Republican voters aged 18–50 supported same-sex marriage.[49][50]

A

Washington Post/ABC News poll from February–March found that a record high of 59% of Americans approved of same-sex marriage, with only 34% opposed and 7% with no opinion. The poll also revealed that 53% of the population in the states that did not allow same-sex couples to marry at the time approved of same-sex marriage. 50% of respondents agreed that the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the freedom to marry regardless of sex or sexual orientation, while 41% disagreed, and 9% had no opinion.[51] The same poll also found that 81% of people believed that businesses should not be allowed to refuse to serve gays and lesbians. 16% disagreed, and 3% had no opinion. 78% thought that gay couples can be "just as good parents" as straight couples, while 18% disagreed and 4% had no opinion.[52]

2013

A November/December Public Religion Research Institute poll sponsored by the Ford Foundation found that 53% of all Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 41% were opposed and 6% unsure. The margin of error was 1.1%. The same poll found clear majorities in favor of same-sex marriage in the Northeast (60%), West (58%), and Midwest (51%). Only the South was evenly divided 48% in favor to 48% opposed. Further, nearly 7-in-10 (69%) of those born after 1980 (ages 18–33) favored allowing same-sex couples to marry.[53]

A Bloomberg National Poll conducted by Selzer & Company taken during September 20–23, 2013 found that 55% supported same-sex marriage, while 36% opposed and 9% were unsure.[54]

A September Quinnipiac University poll found that 56% of American adults and 57% of registered voters supported same-sex marriage. Only 36% of both groups were opposed.[55]

A July 10–14 poll by Gallup found support for same-sex marriage at 54%, a record high, and double the support of 27% Gallup first measured when the question was asked in 1996.[56]

A July poll by USA Today found that 55% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 40% did not.[57]

A May 9 Washington Post-ABC News poll found that 55% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 40% did not.[58]

A March 20–24 CBS News Poll found that 53% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, 39% opposed it, and 8% were undecided.[59] The same poll also found that 33% of Americans who thought same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry said they once held the opposite view and had changed their opinion.

A March 7–10 Washington Post-ABC News[60] poll found that 58% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 36% opposed. The poll indicated that 52% of GOP-leaning independents under 50 years old supported same-sex marriage.[61]

A March Quinnipiac University poll of voters found 47% supported same-sex marriage and 43% were opposed.[62]

2012

A November 26–29 Gallup poll found that 53% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 46% did not.[63]

A November 16–19 CBS News poll found that 51% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 40% did not.[64]

A November 7–11

Washington Post poll found that 51% of respondents supported same-sex marriage, while 47% were opposed.[65]

A June 6 CNN/ORC International poll showed that a majority of Americans supported same-sex marriage being legalized at 54%, while 42% were opposed.[66]

A May 22

Wall Street Journal poll showed that 54% of Americans would support a law in their state making same-sex marriage legal, with 40% opposed.[67]

A May 17–20 ABC News/Washington Post poll showed that 53% believed same-sex marriage should be legal, with only 39% opposed, a low point for opposition in any national poll that far.[68][69]

A May 10

Gallup Poll showed majority support for same-sex marriage nationwide, with 50% in favor and 48% opposed.[72]

An April Pew Research Center poll showed support for same-sex marriage at 48%, while opposition fell to 44%.[7]

A March 7–10

Washington Post poll found 52% of adults thought it should be legal for same-sex couples to get married, while 42% disagreed and 5% were unsure.[54] A March survey by the Public Religion Research Institute found 52% of Americans supported allowing same-sex couples to marry, while 44% opposed.[73]

A February 29 – March 3

Wall Street Journal poll found 49% of adults supported allowing same-sex couples to marry, while 40% opposed.[74]

2011

Public support for same-sex marriage continued to grow in 2011. In February and March, a

Washington Post,[77] and CNN/Opinion Research[78]
all showed that a majority of Americans approved of same-sex marriage.

In March, Pew reported that 57% of Democrats favored legal recognition for same-sex marriage, and 51% of independents agreed, but only 23% of Republicans agreed.[75] An April CNN/Opinion Research Poll showed majority support including 64% of Democrats and 55% of independents, but only 27% of Republicans.[78]

In March 2011, Democracy Corps conducted a survey of 1,000 likely

2012 election voters in 50 congressional districts considered political battlegrounds. It asked respondents to rate their feelings on the same-sex marriage issue on a 0–100 scale, with 100 being "very warm" or favorable feelings, and 0 being "very cold" or unfavorable feelings. 42% were on the "cool" or unfavorable side, and 35% were on the "warm" or favorable side.[79]

A May 2011

Gallup Poll also showed majority support for same-sex marriage, 53% in favor to 45% opposed. Gallup measured a 9-point increase in support, from 44% to 53%, indicating that support increased faster than in any previous year.[76]

2010

An August Associated Press/National Constitution Center poll found 52% agreed that the federal government should give legal recognition to marriages between couples of the same sex, an increase from 46% in 2009. 46% disagreed, compared to 53% in 2009.[80]

An August CNN/Opinion Research Poll showed that 49% of respondents thought gays and lesbians do have a constitutional right to get married and have their marriage recognized by law as valid, and 52% thought gays and lesbians should have that right.[81]

Earlier polls in February and May found opinion divided within the margin of error, but with a consistent trend of increasing support and decreasing opposition compared to prior years.

2010 midterm elections found 53% opposition with 41% support.[85]

2000s

2009

An April 30

Washington Post poll found support for allowing same-sex couples to marry in the United States ahead of opposition for the first time: 49% support, 46% opposition, and 5% with no opinion. In addition, 53% believed that same-sex marriages performed in other states should be legal in their states. 62% of Democrats and 52% of Independents supported same-sex marriage, while 74% of Republicans opposed.[86]

An April 22–26 poll by

New York Times found 42% supported marriage for same-sex couples, 25% supported civil unions, and 28% opposed any legal recognition of same-sex couples.[87]
5% of respondents were unsure.

In April, Nate Silver noted that the discrepancy in support for same-sex marriage appeared to result from 5-10% of respondents who favored civil unions over same-sex marriage, but given only two choices, would support same-sex marriage.[88]

A LifeWay Research poll conducted in August 2009 found that 61% of Americans born between 1980 and 1991 saw nothing wrong with two people of the same gender getting married, while 39% disagreed. The survey was conducted on a demographically representative survey of 1,200 U.S. adults between 18 and 29 years old.[89]

2008

A December poll revealed that 32% supported the concept of civil unions, 31% would offer full marriage rights to same-sex couples, and 30% opposed any legal recognition for gay and lesbian partnerships.[90]

In a July 17 poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, 55 percent opposed same-sex marriage, and 36 percent were in favor.[91]

An ABC News poll found that a majority (58%) of Americans remained opposed to same-sex marriages, while a minority (36%) support them. However, on the question of a constitutional amendment, more were opposed than for it. The majority (51%) of Americans said the issue should be left for the states to decide, while 43% would agree with amending the Constitution.[citation needed]

A July poll by Quinnipiac University Polling Institute revealed that 32% would allow homosexual partners to legally marry, 33% would permit them to form civil unions, and 29% would grant them no legal recognition.[91][92]

2006

In May, a Gallup poll found that opposition to same-sex marriage had fallen slightly, as other polls found a sharper dip. In the poll, when asked if marriages between homosexuals should be recognized by law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages, 58% (down 1 point from Aug 2005, and 9 points from March 1996) of Americans responded that they should not be recognized. 39% (up 2 points from Aug 2005, and 12 points from 1996) felt same-sex marriages should be recognized by law. If "homosexuals" is replaced with "same-sex couples", 42% backed same-sex marriage while 56% opposed it.[93]

In June, a Princeton Survey Research Associates/Pew Research Center poll found a rise in those opposed to same-sex marriage, with 56% disapproving.

In March, a Princeton Survey Research Associates/Pew Research Center poll concluded that 39% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, while 51% opposed it, and 10% were undecided.

A Pew study in March found that 51% opposed same-sex marriage, with 39% supporting it, and the level of "strongly opposing" same-sex marriage had fallen from 42% to 28%.[94][95] Pew's May 2008 Survey found that for the first time, a majority of people did not oppose same-sex marriage at 49%. 20% opposed and 29% strongly opposed same-sex marriage, up 1% from the March 2006 Pew Research Results.[96]

2004

In December, a Princeton Survey Research Associates/Pew Research Center poll found 61% of Americans opposed (including 38% "strongly opposed").

20th century

An October 1989 Yankelovich Clancy Shulman telephone poll found that 84% of Americans opposed same-sex marriage, with 12% supporting same-sex marriage, and 4% being not sure.[97]

A 1988 International Social Survey Programme poll found that 80.3% of Americans opposed same-sex marriage, while 11.9% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, and 2.1% of Americans neither agreed or disagreed.[98]

A 1988 National Opinion Research Center / General Social Survey / University of Chicago poll found that 82.6% of Americans opposed same-sex marriage, 10.7% of Americans supported it, 3.9% of Americans neither agreed or disagreed, and 2.8% didn't know / etc.[99]

Demographic differences

By age

Date(s) conducted Age Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage Don't Know / Refused Margin of error Sample Conducted by Polling type
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 18-29 79% 19% 2% 351 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 18-34 75% 2.82% 360 adults NBC News / Wall Street Journal Live interviews and cell phone interviews
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 18-48 72% 24% 4% 1,016 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 30-49 67% 28% 5% 665 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 35-49 60% 2.82% 300 adults NBC News / Wall Street Journal Live interviews and cell phone interviews
August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 50-64 55% 2.82% 336 adults NBC News / Wall Street Journal Live interviews and cell phone interviews
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 50-64 56% 38% 6% 778 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 50+ 52% 41% 7% 1,452 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 65+ 42% 2.82% 204 adults NBC News / Wall Street Journal Live interviews and cell phone interviews
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 65+ 46% 45% 9% 674 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews

By education

Date(s) conducted Education Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage Don't Know / Refused Margin of error Sample Conducted by Polling type
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 College grad 72% 23% 6% 719 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
College grad+ 75% 21% 5% 1,199 adults
August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 College graduates 68% 2.82% 468 adults NBC News / Wall Street Journal Live interviews and cell phone interviews
High school or less 48% 372 adults
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 HS or less 53% 41% 6% 634 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
Non-college 57% 37% 6% 1,295 adults
Postgrad 79% 17% 3% 480 adults
August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 Postgraduates 72% 2.82% 168 adults NBC News / Wall Street Journal Live interviews and cell phone interviews
Some college 61% 192 adults
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 Some college 62% 32% 6% 661 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews

By ethnicity or race

Date(s) conducted Ethnicity or race Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage Don't Know / Refused Margin of error Sample Conducted by Polling type
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017
Black
, non-Hispanic
51% 41% 7% 7.3% 241 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017
African-American
51% 2.82% 144 adults NBC News / Wall Street Journal Live interviews and cell phone interviews
Hispanic
66% 840 adults
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017
Hispanic
60% 36% 5% 6.5% 297 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 Total
Non-White
60% 2.82% 312 adults NBC News / Wall Street Journal Live interviews and cell phone interviews
White
60% 888 adults
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 64% 31% 5% 2.7% 1,737 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews

By gender

Date(s) conducted Gender Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage Don't Know / Refused Margin of error Sample Conducted by Polling type
August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017
Men
61% 2.82% 576 adults NBC News / Wall Street Journal Live interviews and cell phone interviews
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 60% 34% 6% 1,355 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017
Women
59% 2.82% 624 adults NBC News / Wall Street Journal Live interviews and cell phone interviews
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 64% 30% 5% 1,149 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews

By geography

Date(s) conducted Geography Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage Margin of error Sample Conducted by Polling type
August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017
Rural
47% 2.82% NBC News / Wall Street Journal Live interviews and cell phone interviews
Suburban
61%
Urban 66%

By income

Date(s) conducted Income Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage Don't Know / Refused Margin of error Sample Conducted by Polling type
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 <$30,000 54% 39% 7% 568 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
$30,000-$74,999 65% 31% 5% 787 adults
$75,000+ 72% 23% 5% 951 adults

By political affiliation

Date(s) conducted Political affiliation State sanctioned same-sex marriage should be valid
/
Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage
Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage Don't Know / Refused Margin of error Sample Conducted by Polling type
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 Dem/Dem lean 76% 19% 5% 3.2% 1,230 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
Democrat 73% 22% 5% 777 adults Pew Research Center
May 1, 2018 – May 10, 2018 Democrats 83% 4% 1,024 adults Gallup Telephone interviews
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 Independent 70% 26% 5% 989 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
May 1, 2018 – May 10, 2018 Independents 71% 4% 1,024 adults Gallup Telephone interviews
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 Rep/Rep lean 47% 48% 5% 3.5% 1,050 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
Republican 40% 54% 5% 612 adults Pew Research Center
May 1, 2018 – May 10, 2018 Republicans 44% 4% 1,024 adults Gallup Telephone interviews
February 11, 2020 – November 22, 2020 Republicans 51% 1.1% 10,052 adults PRRI Interviews

By political affiliation by generation

Date(s) conducted Political affiliation
by
generation
Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage Don't Know / Refused Margin of error Sample Conducted by Polling type
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 Democratic Millennials 87% 12% 2% 344 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
Democratic Gen Xers 76% 18% 5% 268 adults
Baby Boomers
70% 26% 4% 463 adults
Democratic Silents 56% 31% 13% 140 adults
Republican Millennials 60% 38% 2% 198 adults
Republican Gen Xers 51% 43% 6% 215 adults
Baby Boomers
42% 53% 6% 421 adults
Republican Silents 29% 62% 9% 188 adults

By political affiliation by ideology

Date(s) conducted Political affiliation
by
ideology
Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage Don't Know / Refused Margin of error Sample Conducted by Polling type
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 Conservative Rep/Lean Rep 39% 55% 6% 698 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
Liberal Dem/Lean Dem 66% 27% 7% 617 adults
Moderate/Cons Dem/Lean Dem 88% 10% 2% 613 adults
Moderate/Lib Rep/Lean Rep
63% 33% 4% 352 adults

By religious affiliation

Date(s) conducted Religious affiliation State sanctioned same-sex marriage should be valid
/
Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage
Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage Don't Know / Refused Margin of error Sample Conducted by Polling type
May 3, 2017 – May 7, 2017
Catholics
65% 4% Gallup Telephone interviews
Protestants/Christians (nonspecific) 55%
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 Total
Catholic
67% 28% 6% 502 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
Total Protestant 48% 46% 6% 1,165 adults
Total Unaffiliated 85% 10% 4% 597 adults
September 9 – 22, 2020 Hispanic Catholics 78% Public Religion Research Institute Online (2,496), some telephone (42)[100]
White Catholics 67%
White mainline Protestants 79%
Hispanic Protestants 68%
Black Protestants 57%
White evangelical Protestants 34%
Non-Christian religious 72%
Christian: Other 56%
Unaffiliated 90%

By religious attendance

Date(s) conducted Religious attendance Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage Don't Know / Refused Margin of error Sample Conducted by Polling type
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 Less than weekly 75% 20% 5% 1,619 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 Monthly 59% 2.82% 204 adults NBC News / Wall Street Journal Live interviews and cell phone interviews
Never 80% 288 adults
Weekly 34% 384 adults
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 Weekly or more 34% 66% 6% 863 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 Yearly 70% 2.82% 312 adults NBC News / Wall Street Journal Live interviews and cell phone interviews

Regional, state, and local level polls

By state, federal district, or territory

Date(s) conducted State,
federal district,
or
territory
Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage Don't Know / Refused Sample Conducted by Polling type
April 5, 2022 – December 23, 2022 Alabama 53% 41% 6% 261 adults Public Religion Research Institute[1] Telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
Alaska 70% 30% N/A 160 adults
Arizona 70% 26% 4% 558 adults
Arkansas 51% 47% 1% 176 adults
California 72% 26% 2% 2,295 adults
Colorado 74% 24% 2% 389 adults
Connecticut 81% 18% 1% 274 adults
Delaware 69% 29% 2% 164 adults
Florida 69% 28% 3% 1,457 adults
Georgia 62% 36% 3% 601 adults
Hawaii 69% 30% 1% 157 adults
Idaho 64% 36% N/A 167 adults
Illinois 77% 20% 2% 740 adults
Indiana 67% 31% 1% 414 adults
Iowa 75% 20% 4% 218 adults
Kansas 69% 30% 1% 177 adults
Kentucky 57% 42% 1% 516 adults
Louisiana 62% 36% 2% 214 adults
Maine 82% 19% N/A 167 adults
Maryland 71% 26% 2% 401 adults
Massachusetts 83% 12% 4% 446 adults
Michigan 68% 30% 2% 715 adults
Minnesota 77% 21% 2% 403 adults
Mississippi 49% 48% 4% 178 adults
Missouri 63% 36% 1% 406 adults
Montana 70% 29% 1% 164 adults
Nebraska 60% 33% 6% 163 adults
Nevada 78% 20% 2% 196 adults
New Hampshire 82% 17% 1% 182 adults
New Jersey 76% 21% 3% 590 adults
New Mexico 72% 28% 1% 527 adults
New York
75% 21% 3% 1,133 adults
North Carolina 65% 34% 2% 686 adults
North Dakota 66% 34% 1% 157 adults
Ohio 70% 28% 2% 837 adults
Oklahoma 54% 44% 2% 200 adults
Oregon 78% 22% N/A 325 adults
Pennsylvania 68% 29% 3% 979 adults
Rhode Island 80% 14% 6% 157 adults
South Carolina 55% 40% 6% 304 adults
South Dakota 63% 37% 1% 156 adults
Tennessee 52% 44% 4% 436 adults
Texas 62% 36% 2% 1,611 adults
Utah 65% 34% 1% 193 adults
Vermont 70% 29% N/A 156 adults
Virginia 74% 24% 2% 652 adults
Washington
83% 15% 2% 583 adults
West Virginia 62% 38% 1% 156 adults
Wisconsin 72% 26% 2% 466 adults
Wyoming 62% 38% N/A 161 adults
District of Columbia
78% 17% 4% 160 adults Public Religion Research Institute Archived February 21, 2019, at the Wayback Machine

By metro area

Date(s) conducted Metro area Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage Don't Know / Refused Sample Conducted by Polling type
January 7, 2020-December 20, 2020 Albany 83% 9% 8% 185 adults Public Religion Research Institute Telephone and cell phone interviews[101]
Albuquerque 81% 11% 7% 174 adults
Allentown 63% 35% 1% 155 adults
Atlanta
62% 34% 5% 1,070 adults
Austin 74% 23% 3% 266 adults
Baltimore 68% 27% 6% 460 adults
Birmingham 65% 35% 0% 194 adults
Boston 80% 16% 4% 674 adults
Buffalo
43% 46% 10% 206 adults
Charlotte 63% 30% 7% 383 adults
Chicago 71% 25% 4% 1,167 adults
Cincinnati 70% 27% 3% 358 adults
Cleveland 89% 6% 5% 330 adults
Columbus 62% 35% 3% 360 adults
Dallas 73% 22% 5% 922 adults
Denver 80% 15% 5% 508 adults
Detroit 69% 24% 6% 728 adults
Fresno 51% 44% 5% 126 adults
Grand Rapids 53% 45% 2% 149 adults
Hartford 89% 11% 0% 187 adults
Houston 67% 29% 4% 782 adults
Indianapolis 69% 25% 6% 393 adults
Jacksonville 86% 11% 3% 270 adults
Kansas City 58% 35% 7% 280 adults
Knoxville 63% 29% 7% 155 adults
Las Vegas 77% 19% 4% 317 adults
Los Angeles 70% 25% 5% 781 adults
Louisville 79% 13% 8% 229 adults
Memphis 73% 22% 5% 160 adults
Miami 81% 15% 4% 974 adults
Milwaukee 76% 24% 0% 245 adults
Minneapolis-St. Paul 79% 17% 5% 587 adults
Nashville 80% 15% 5% 262 adults
New Orleans 68% 31% 0% 168 adults
New York City 67% 28% 5% 3,004 adults
Oklahoma City 62% 30% 8% 188 adults
Omaha 86% 14% 0% 149 adults
Orlando 77% 16% 7% 446 adults
Philadelphia 70% 23% 7% 937 adults
Phoenix 66% 27% 7% 724 adults
Pittsburgh 80% 18% 1% 427 adults
Portland 76% 17% 6% 464 adults
Providence 62% 32% 6% 212 adults
Raleigh 46% 45% 10% 232 adults
Richmond 74% 20% 7% 189 adults
Riverside 73% 19% 8% 544 adults
Rochester 71% 26% 3% 170 adults
Sacramento 73% 26% 1% 348 adults
Salt Lake City 58% 38% 3% 209 adults
San Antonio 71% 16% 12% 326 adults
San Diego 82% 18% 1% 461 adults
San Francisco 78% 21% 1% 703 adults
San Jose 86% 13% 2% 220 adults
Seattle 73% 23% 5% 656 adults
St. Louis 68% 25% 6% 400 adults
Tampa-St. Petersburg 70% 26% 4% 566 adults
Tucson 82% 7% 10% 194 adults
Virginia Beach 65% 20% 16% 316 adults
Washington D.C. 71% 25% 4% 1,174 adults

By region

Date(s) conducted Region Favor state sanctioned same-sex marriage
/
Support state sanctioned same-sex marriage
Oppose state sanctioned same-sex marriage Don't Know / Refused
/
No answer
Margin of error Sample Conducted by Polling type
April 5, 2017 – December 23, 2017 Midwest 62% 31% 8% 0.6% Public Religion Research Institute Archived February 21, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 53% 2.82% NBC News / Wall Street Journal Live interviews and cell phone interviews
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 62% 33% 6% 552 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
April 5, 2017 – December 23, 2017 Northeast 69% 23% 8% 0.6% Public Religion Research Institute Archived February 21, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 70% 2.82% NBC News / Wall Street Journal Live interviews and cell phone interviews
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 73% 23% 4% 432 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
March 12, 2018 – March 25, 2018 South[a] 55% 42% 3% 2.4% 4,132 adult residents NBC News / SurveyMonkey Online survey
April 5, 2017 – December 23, 2017 West 66% 26% 9% 0.6% Public Religion Research Institute Archived February 21, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Telephone interviews and cell phone interviews
August 5, 2017 – August 9, 2017 67% 2.82% NBC News / Wall Street Journal Live interviews and cell phone interviews
June 8, 2017 – June 18, 2017 68% 28% 4% 577 adults Pew Research Center Landline telephone interviews and cell phone interviews

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia

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