CPAC Poll: Gay Marriage Tied for Last Place in List of Conservative Priorities

Fighting gay marriage tied for last in a poll of CPAC attendees' priorities. And you can thank the kids for that. Via the conservative blog Hot Air:

"Only 16 percent had abortion, gay marriage, or "promoting traditional values" as either of their top two priorities? Granted, students comprised 48 percent of the sample - how else could Paul have won? - but that might be less significant as evidence that the poll's an outlier than as evidence that it may not be such an outlier a few years from now. (More than half the votes cast in the poll were by those 25 years old or younger.)"

Between this poll result and GOProud/Ryan Sorba dustup, CPAC certainly was fascinating this year. I wish I could see Maggie's face when they hand her this poll.

Full Story from Joe.My.God
Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

TX: New Poll Shows 63% Favor Relationship Recognition for Gay/Lesbian Couples

Texans who attend church more than once a week are three times as likely to oppose relationship recognition for same-sex couples as those who don’t attend church at all. And Texans who didn’t complete high school are twice as likely to oppose relationship recognition as those with four-year college degrees.

Meanwhile, those who identify as "strong Democrats" are seven times as likely to support marriage equality as those who identify as "strong Republicans." And Latinos in Texas are more likely to support marriage equality than either whites or blacks.

These are among the findings of University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll released this week. Overall, the poll of 800 registered voters found that a solid majority of Texans, about 63 percent, support some form of relationship recognition for same-sex couples, either marriage or civil unions. Only 30 percent of poll respondents said they oppose both marriage and civil unions, while 7 percent said they "don’t know." The poll, conducted the first week of February, has a margin of error of 3.5 percent.

Full Story from the Dallas Voice
Click here for gay marriage resources in Texas.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Poll: Changing "Gays & Lesbians" to "Homosexuals" Drops DAT Repeal Support by 11%

A fascinating CBS poll reveals that support for the repeal of DADT varies greatly depending on whether "homosexual" or "gay" is used in the wording of the question.

"In the poll, 59 percent say they now support allowing "homosexuals" to serve in the U.S. military, including 34 percent who say they strongly favor that. Ten percent say they somewhat oppose it and 19 percent say they strongly oppose it. But the numbers differ when the question is changed to whether Americans support "gay men and lesbians" serving in the military. When the question is asked that way, 70 percent of Americans say they support gay men and lesbians serving in the military, including 19 percent who say they somewhat favor it. Seven percent somewhat oppose it, and 12 percent strongly oppose it."

John Aravois at AmericaBlog reacts:

"Bottom line: Homosexual is a nasty, clinical-sounding word with nasty connotations for far too many Americans. It's what I've argued for years, and have been routinely beaten up by some in the gay community who claim I'm nuts - namely, that no one should use this offensive word and we should correct anyone who does. It now appears I'm not so nuts after all."

Full Story from Joe.My.God
Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

USA: New Poll Shows 12% Increase in Support for Civil Unions Since 2007, Slight Drop on Gay Marriage

With the nation's capital poised to begin allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry, opinions nationwide remain closely divided, but two-thirds of all Americans now say gay and lesbian couples should be able to have the same rights as heterosexual couples through civil unions. In a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, 47 percent say gay marriages should be legal, with 31 percent saying they feel that way "strongly." Intensity is stronger among opponents, however: overall, half say such marriages should be illegal, including 42 percent who say so strongly.

Civil unions draw broader support. Two-thirds now say they favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to form civil unions that would give them many of the same legal rights as married couples. That's an increase of 12 percentage points since a December 2007 poll that asked about civil unions for "homosexual couples."

In the new poll, support for civil unions is at 50 percent or better across party and ideological lines. Support for such arrangements is now 15 points higher than it was a few years ago among conservatives; it's up 13 points among Republicans.

Full Story from the Washington Post
Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

DC: Poll - 70% in Black Community Want Gay Marriage Vote, 51% Would Vote Against It

Responses to a Washington Post poll of 1,135 adults in the District of Columbia. (Washington Post):

22. On another subject, do you think it should be legal or illegal for gay and lesbian couples to get married? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?

--------- Legal ---------
NET Strongly Somewhat
1/28/10 56 42 13
White 83 70 14
Black 37 24 13
-------- Illegal -------- No
NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
1/28/10 35 5 30 9
White 12 4 9 4
Black 51 7 44 12

23. As you may have heard, the D.C. Council passed and the mayor signed legislation to permit
same-sex marriages in the District. Do you think this issue should be put on a city-wide ballot, so District voters could vote yes or no on a referendum on same-sex marriage?

Should be on Should not be on No
city-wide ballot city-wide ballot opinion
1/28/10 59 37 4
White 39 58 3
Black 70 25 6

The disturbing results on Question 22 & Question 23 suggest, by a significant margin, that most of Washington, DC's African-American residents would like to vote on the civil rights of the gay and lesbian community. It may seem ridiculous to divide the population on unscientific, fabricated notions of race, but these results (if accurate) infer that those who self-identify as black continue to be opposed to same-sex marriages. Only 1 in 4 said there should be no referendum. Those who identify as white tended to say no vote was necessary, but nearly 2 in 5 still said there should be a referendum. Neighborhoods in Washington, DC, as most residents will agree, are largely self-segregated along ethnic lines as well as economic ones.

Full Story from Metro Weekly
Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington, DC.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

IA: 62% Say Gay Marriage Not Worthy of Legislators' Time

A majority of Iowans think the issue of gay marriage doesn't deserve lawmakers' limited time. Among six hot-button topics, a new Iowa Poll shows a majority of Iowans consider only a ban on text messaging while driving worth the Legislature's time during a session shortened by 20 days to cut costs. Iowans are not enthusiastic about devoting time to debates on gay marriage, puppy mills, gun control, payday loans or gambling.

The Democrats who control what comes up for a vote say budget issues will dominate the 2010 session as the recession continues to pinch state revenues. But lawmakers have introduced hundreds of bills on other topics.

Friday marks the first so-called funnel, a deadline that winnows the workload by letting some bills move forward and others die.

Full Story from the Des Moines Register
Click here for gay marriage resources in Iowa.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

New Poll: 52% Think Supreme Court Will Rule Against Gay Marriage

Most Americans predict the U.S. Supreme Court will eventually define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, a national poll indicated Thursday. And most Americans would prefer the court to rule that way, the Angus Reid Public Opinion poll found.

The online survey of a representative national sampling of 1,000 U.S. adults indicated 52 percent believe the justices will define marriage as a heterosexual union, while 28 percent think the court will define marriage federally as a union between two people, regardless of gender.

Fifty-eight percent want the court to define marriage as heterosexual only, while 34 percent would like no gender limitations, the survey found. Slightly more than a third, or 34 percent, say couples of the same sex should be allowed to marry, while 26 percent say they should only be allowed to form civil unions.

Full Story from UPI
Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Portugal: 52% Support 43% Oppose Gay Marriage

Fifty-two percent of Portuguese support legalization of same-sex marriage, according to a new Eurosondagem poll for Rádio Renascença, SIC TV, and the Expresso newspaper.

Parliament voted 125-92 to legalize same-sex marriage on Jan. 8. Barring unexpected complications, the first gay weddings will take place in April or shortly thereafter.

The bill that legalized same-sex marriage specifically excluded access to adoption for married same-sex couples.

Full Story from Bay Windows
Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Mexico: Poll Shows Mexico City Residents Support Gay Marriage

A new poll shows strong support for gay marriage in Mexico City, but a majority of residents remain opposed to gay adoption, the Mexico City-based Excelsior reported Thursday. Lawmakers in Mexico's capital and largest city approved a gay marriage law over the objections of conservatives in December. The law, a first for Latin America, is expected to take effect in February. Previously, the city government recognized gay couples with civil unions but banned gay adoption. The paper is reporting that two recent polls suggest there is strong support for gay marriage in the capital. One survey conducted by the pollster BGC-Ulises Beltran found 46% of residents approve of gay marriage, 43% oppose it, while 11% were undecided. Narrower results were reported by the firm GEA-ISA, which found 47% of residents favor gay marriage and 46% oppose it; 7% did not know. Full Story from On Top Magazine

Click here for gay marriage resources in Mexico.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

New Poll: 47% Believe Being Gay is a Choice

A poll of 1,001 American voters has found that almost half believe being gay is something people choose. The research found that 47 per cent of respondents thought homosexuality was a choice, while 46 per cent opposed gay marriage. It was carried out by polling institute Angus-Reid. Fifty-three per cent of respondents in this poll approved of the measure, while 37 per cent were opposed and ten per cent were undecided. Marriage was more contentious, with 46 per cent opposed to full equality. Forty-three per cent were in favour while one per cent were unsure. The respondents who were most in favour of gay marriage tended to be cohabiting, single or widowed people. Married, separated and divorced people were less in favour. Full Story from Pink News: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/12/18/poll-suggests-almost-half-of-americans-believe-being-gay-is-a-choice/

Click here for gay marriage resources.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

New Poll Shows 43% Favor Gay Marriage in US, 46% Oppose It

People in the United States are almost evenly divided on whether same-sex marriage should be allowed in their country, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 43 per cent of respondents favour allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally, while 46 per cent are opposed. In 2004, marriage certificates were issued to same-sex couples by local governments in the states of California, Oregon, New Mexico and New York. In May 2004, the state of Massachusetts allowed gay and lesbian partners to apply for marriage licenses. Same-sex marriage is also legal in Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont, and will become legal next year in New Hampshire. In May 2008, California’s Supreme Court overturned a ban on same-sex marriage in a 4-3 decision, effectively allowing full marriage rights to homosexual partners. In November 2008, 52.5 per cent of voters in California endorsed Proposition 8, which seeks to amend the state Constitution to define marriage as only between a man and a woman. Full Story from Angus-Reid: http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/34691/americans_split_on_same_sex_marriage/

Click here for gay marriage resources.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

NJ: 48% Of State's Catholics Support Gay Marriage

A poll of Catholic voters in the US state of New Jersey has shown that just under half are in favour of gay marriage. The state's Senate was due to vote on a gay marriage bill today but this has stalled after Democrats said they wanted to strengthen support. There are fears they do not have the 21 votes needed to pass it. The poll from Rutgers-Eagleton surveyed 903 people in early November, asking them about their religious beliefs and views on marriage equality. Among Catholics, 48 per cent supported gay marriage, while 40 per cent opposed it and 12 per cent were undecided. Protestants held the opposite view, with only 34 per cent supporting and 55 per cent opposing gay marriage, and 11 per cent undecided. Full Story from Pink News: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/12/10/nearly-half-of-new-jersey-catholics-support-gay-marriage/

Click here for gay marriage resources in New Jersey.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

NY: Poll Finds 51% of NY Voters Support Gay Marriage

Many New Yorkers are taking to the streets to vent their frustrations, after the State Senate voted down a bill that would have given gay and lesbian couples the right to marry in New York State. --- The vote comes in the wake of a new poll that finds a slim majority of New Yorkers in support of legalizing gay marriage. In a Marist College survey of 805 registered voters statewide, 51 percent say they support same-sex marriage and 42 percent oppose it. The same poll found that 61 percent of surveyed New York City voters supported gay marriage. Full Story from NY1: http://ny1.com/5-manhattan-news-content/top_stories/109824/new-yorkers-protest-defeat-of-gay-marriage-bill

Click here for gay marriage resources in New York.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

UT: Poll Says 60% Support Anti Discrimination Laws Statewide for Gays

A new poll shows some 69 percent of Utahns think state lawmakers and Gov. Gary Herbert should push to pass statewide anti-discrimination laws to protect gays. The Deseret News/KSL TV poll of 408 Utahns comes after the Salt Lake City Council passed ordinances banning discrimination against gays in housing and employment. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints backed the measures, which include exemptions for religious organizations. In the poll, 69 percent of respondents said the Legislature should follow Salt Lake City's lead. Just 28 percent opposed an anti-discrimination proposal. Full Story from NewsOK: http://www.newsok.com/poll-most-utahns-back-anti-bias-laws-for-gays/article/feed/111922

Click here for gay marriage resources.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

NJ: Voters Now Against Gay Marriage Bill 49% to 46%

New Jersey voters oppose gay marriage legislation by a slim margin, according to a poll released this morning by Quinnipiac. The poll, conducted between Nov. 17 and Nov. 22, found that 49 percent of adult residents are opposed to giving gay couples the right to marry while 46 percent are in favor of it. Six percent were undecided. A large crowd, some with signs, gathers at the New Jersey Statehouse Monday in Trenton in support of proposed legislation legalizing same sex marriage. A poll conducted by Quinnipiac earlier this year had almost the opposite results -- 49 percent of voters supported gay marriage while 43 percent did not. “When we asked about gay marriage in April, it won narrow approval. Now that it seems closer to a legislative vote, it loses narrowly with the public,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. Full Story from NJ.com: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/nj_poll_shows_opposition_to_ga.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

World Net Daily Posts Wildly Homophobic "Poll" on Gay Rights

From WND founder and CEO Joseph Farah's November 23 WND.com column headlined, "Why sin cannot be condoned by state": "On Friday, more than 150 Christian leaders, most of them conservative evangelicals and traditionalist Roman Catholics, issued a joint declaration reaffirming their opposition to homosexual marriage on the basis of protecting religious freedom. While I agree that government's granting of special "rights" based on aberrant sexual behavior is a religious freedom issue, it's not the main reason for concern by Christians and Jews. The Bible clearly identifies homosexual behavior, as opposed to homosexual thoughts or predilections, as sin." Full Story from Media Matters: http://mediamatters.org/blog/200911240011

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

New Poll: 60% of Californians Don't Want to See Gay Marriage on Ballot in 2010

A small majority of California voters supports the right of gay couples to marry, but a much larger portion of voters opposes efforts to place the issue back on the ballot next year, a new Los Angeles Times/USC poll has found. Views on same-sex marriage were sharply polarized based on political party, with 66% of Democrats thinking it should be legal and 71% of Republicans in opposition. Nonpartisan voters were less enthusiastic than Democrats but still backed it, 59%-34%. Overall, 51% of California voters favored marriage rights for same-sex couples and 43% were opposed. Strikingly, however, almost 60% of Californians did not want to revisit the issue in 2010, just one election cycle after it last hit the ballot. Full Story from the LA Times: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/11/voters-opposed-new-gay-marriage-ballot-measure-timesusc-poll-finds.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in California.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Referendum 71 Ahead 57% to 38% Among Washington's Likely Voters

The yearly Washington Poll shows the statewide Referendum 71 for gay couples’ rights passing one week before the Nov. 3 election, while Tim Eyman's tax-limiting Initiative 1033 is trailing. The poll was conducted by a social research school at the University of Washington that has a track record of correctly forecasting election results. Its poll shows: R-71 is winning by a 56 percent to 39 percent margin among registered voters. The edge was 57-38 among likely voters; likely voters were those who have sent in ballots already or said they voted in November 2007. Full Story from the Olympian: http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/1016921.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington State .

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

New Maine Poll: 53% Favor Keeping Gay Marriage, 42% Oppose It

A new poll shows strong support for maintaining the state's new gay marriage law. The poll, conducted last week by Pan Atlantic SMS, also found dwindling support for the tax-and-spending cap initiative known as TABOR 2. Pan Atlantic's Patrick Murphy says the survey of 400 likely voters found 53 percent opposing Question 1, which would repeal Maine's gay marriage law, while 42 percent favor the measure and six percent remain undecided. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percent. Murphy says Question 1 is getting a different reaction in Maine's two congressional districts, with voters in the 1st District favoring the measure by a 20 point spread, while voters in the 2nd District remain nearly equally divided. He says among the state's Catholic voters, the measure has a narrow margin of support, 49 to 46 percent. Full Story from MPBN: http://www.mpbn.net/News/MaineNews/tabid/181/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3483/ItemId/9516/Default.aspx

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Maine.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

New Poll in Maine: 52% Will Uphold Gay Marriage, 43% Against It

A new poll shows an edge for supporters of same-sex marriage in Maine's Nov. 3 referendum, with 51.8 percent of those surveyed saying they plan to vote to uphold the law legalizing it and 42.9 percent planning to vote for repeal. The poll released Wednesday by the Pan Atlantic SMS Group of Portland shows that 5.2 percent of the people surveyed were undecided. The survey results followed campaign finance reports on Tuesday that showed No on 1, the group supporting same-sex marriage, had raised $2.7 million as of Sept. 30. The group supporting a people's veto of the law, Stand for Marriage Maine, had raised $1.1 million. Full Story from the Kennebec Journal: http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/6980230.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Maine.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.