Posted on 03/23/2006 10:47:35 AM PST by metalmanx2j
WASHINGTON - The public backlash over gay marriage has receded since a controversial decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Court in 2003 to legalize those marriages stirred strong opposition, says a poll released Wednesday.
Gay marriage remains a divisive issue, with 51 percent opposing it, the poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press found. But almost two-thirds, 63 percent, opposed gay marriage in February 2004.
"Most Americans still oppose gay marriage, but the levels of opposition are down and the number of strong opponents are down," said Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center. "This has some implications for the midterm elections if this trend is maintained. There are gay marriage ballot initiatives in numerous states."
Gay marriage got intense media coverage in 2004 after the Massachusetts court case, the decision by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom to issue thousands of marriage licenses to gay couples and similar cases. But the intense focus on gay marriage has declined in the last year.
In 2004, opponents of gay marriage were able to pass ballot initiatives banning the practice in 11 states, from Georgia to Oregon. Those gay marriage initiatives also helped conservatives rally their voters to the polls.
The number of people who say they strongly oppose gay marriage has dropped from 42 percent in early 2004 to 28 percent now. Strong opposition has dropped sharply among senior citizens and Republicans.
People are now evenly split on allowing adoptions by gay couples and six in 10 now favor allowing gays to serve openly in the military.
Legal challenges of laws on gay marriage could result in more court decisions that stir public opinion, but this midterm election year is starting with far less public anxiety about one of the nation's most volatile social issues.
The telephone poll of 1,405 adults was conducted March 8-12 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Polls schmolls.
Media polls are useful in that they give insight into what the dinosaur media WISHES were true.
Put it on the ballot and see all this marvelous new support vanish into thin air.
I think people who oppose homosexual special rights are just getting tired of the fight and I think that is what the homosexuals are counting on. Just wear us down and make enough noise and they will get what they want. How long before America becomes just as bad as Europe?
Conservatives win elections.
Not in my universe!
And I've noticed recent news which contradicts this from France, Canada, even San Francisco!
About 20 years.
The libs (including the MSM) will be generating more "polls", conducted to achieve their agenda, over the next two years, such that we will be in a state of nausea.
People DO NOT favor gay marriage at all, and only the liberal leftist fringe does (and gays) do. But just look at the by-line --- AP. That says it all.
They could put it on the ballot in all 50 states and it wouldn't pass in a single one. The polls must have been taken on the streets of the largest, most liberal cities.
The propaganda campaign and the campaign to demonize anyone who believes homosexual activity is immoral is working!
I have taken to addressing homosexuals as sodomites.
That is because, in all of those areas mentioned, people oppose gay marriage there too, despite what the MSM and liberals want to say...
BS, put it to a vote and see how it does, That would give a much better idea as to the real feelings on that subject...
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
You are probably right. I don't watch much regular TV but when I do, I can't believe how almost every show has either a homosexual character or makes lots of references (almost always positive) to homosexuality. It's just a matter of time until the U.S. becomes Sodom and Gomorrah.
If you want to go for a lighter terminology, might I suggest "turd burglar?"
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