Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Did Gallup tilt its poll to favor homosexuals?
Quinnipiac University ^ | 14 June 2003 | No Dems 2004

Posted on 06/14/2003 12:17:34 PM PDT by No Dems 2004

Did Gallup tilt its annual values poll to present a pro-homosexual case to the American people? After coming across a Quinnipiac University poll released this month, I’ve concluded that either Gallup had a ‘fluke’ poll, or they intentionally skewed the results to make it look like America is rapidly becoming pro-homosexual. Gallup’s timing was curiously coincidental, considering the pending US Supreme Court on the Texas sodomy law, which criminalizes consensual homosexual sex in the Lone Star State.

Consider. Gallup likes to release a values poll every May, including annual assessments on controversial issues like abortion, homosexuality and the death penalty. In May 2002, by a margin of 55%-38%, Americans regarded homosexuality as morally wrong, and 43% felt that homosexual relations between 2 consenting adults should be illegal, while 52% felt they should be legal. That was very close to what Americans said in May 2001. But, in May 2003, all of the sudden, we had this sharp rise in pro-homosexuality that really made me wonder when I read it. A majority of Americans still regarded homosexuality as morally wrong in the 2003 poll, but only by a margin of 52%-44%. And, all of the sudden, a whopping 60% felt that homosexual relations between consenting adults should be legal, while only 35% (a sharp drop of 8 points) felt that it should not be legal. The poll also claimed that Americans were slightly more tolerant of same-sex civil unions and homosexual adoptions than in previous years. Clearly, something didn’t sound right. How could there be such a sharp change during only one year, when so-called ‘gay rights’ haven’t been all that much in the news, except for the pending US Supreme Court ruling on the Texas sodomy law?

Well, after perusing the results in the respected, un-conservative Quinnipiac University poll (conducted between June 4 and 9 2003), I felt vindicated for doubting this wild swing in the Gallup poll. For starters, Quinnipiac asked the question “In general, do you personally believe that homosexual behavior is morally acceptable or morally wrong?” While this was essentially the same question asked in Gallup, the response was dramatically different: 58% said ‘wrong’, while only 31% said ‘acceptable’ – with a further 11% undecided. And now for the US Supreme Court-related question: “Do you think homosexual relations between consenting adults should or should not be legal?” Only 50% said legal, while 38% said illegal and 12% were undecided. Clearly, 50% is a big difference from 60%. Quinnipiac also found a very similar result when they asked this question only amongst the Pennsylvania voters in the wake of the Senator Santorum controversy: 45% said legal and 35% said illegal and by a margin of 58%-27% they felt homosexuality was morally wrong.

One important point to be made here is that opinion polls are somewhat subjective when it comes to hot button issues like homosexuality and abortion. I remember reading that, during the attempt to repeal Miami-Dade’s pro-homosexual ordinance about a year ago, pro-gay polling firms claimed that the repeal effort was trailing by solid double-digit margins. But, one of the pollsters cautioned against reading too much into the poll because, he said, people are afraid to acknowledge their anti-homosexual views in an opinion poll. In the end, the pro-family movement almost repealed the law, getting a stunning 47% of the vote in favor of the repeal on a day when most of the voters were showing up to vote in a Democratic primary – giving it a leftward tilt. Pro-family groups insisted that, if it hadn’t been a Democratic-leaning voting day, the homosexuals would have lost the battle, even in South Florida’s Miami-Dade. Often, it can be that the self-professed ‘undecideds’ are in fact very decided, but just afraid to admit their pro-family views.

Here’s a couple of other findings in the Quinnipiac poll:

Regional breakdown for Americans regarding homosexuality as morally wrong:

Northeast: 43%

Midwest: 60%

South: 66%

West: 56%

Regional breakdown for Americans feeling that homosexual relations between consenting adults should be legal:

Northeast: 62%

Midwest: 41%

South: 46%

West: 56%

Regional breakdown for Americans feeling that homosexual relations between consenting adults should NOT be legal:

Northeast: 27%

Midwest: 45%

South: 42%

West: 34%

(I’ll bet that a lot of undecideds would have sided with the pro-family stance on consensual sodomy)


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Announcements; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; Free Republic; Front Page News; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: gallup; gay; homosexual; homosexualagenda; polls; prisoners
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-27 next last
I sure hope the USSC does the right thing and upholds the Texas law . . .
1 posted on 06/14/2003 12:17:34 PM PDT by No Dems 2004
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

Comment #2 Removed by Moderator

To: *Homosexual Agenda
Index ping.
3 posted on 06/14/2003 12:28:12 PM PDT by scripter (Thousands have left the homosexual lifestyle.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: No Dems 2004
The USSC is immune to public opinion.

While you are correct that the members of the USSC are "immune" to consequenses of making a ruling that is contrary to popular opinion, as they are appointed and not elected, I do beleive that on more than one occasion the USSC has indeed sited the legal concept of "local morality" in its decisions.

I beleieve what the writer was attempting to convey was that a strong poll showing the "majority" of the nation in favor of, or at least not opposed to a certain practice, could have an affect on the decision by the USSC.

If I somehow misread what you were trying to say please excuse me. :)

4 posted on 06/14/2003 12:39:35 PM PDT by The_Pickle ("We have no Permanent Allies, We have no Permanent Enemies, Only Permanent Interests")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: No Dems 2004
Now WHAT COULD POSSIBLY MAKE ANYONE THINK THAT GALLUP WOULD BE BIASED????
5 posted on 06/14/2003 12:43:11 PM PDT by jmaroneps37
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: PapaJohnMN
I agree that a single poll would not constitute ample cause to believe that the "local morality" has changed to any serious degree.

However, biased polls are but one tool that the homosexuals and special interest groups will use to insist that "everyone" thinks that what they do is alright.

7 posted on 06/14/2003 12:53:14 PM PDT by The_Pickle ("We have no Permanent Allies, We have no Permanent Enemies, Only Permanent Interests")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: No Dems 2004
Firm believer that these agencies that conduct polls like the Gallup know exactly where to poll when wanting favorable or unfavorable results. For example, they know where the pockets of homosexuals and supporters are, know where pockets of RATS vs. PUBBIES, Gore supporters vs. Bush supporters. Oh, yeah! They know where to get the results wanted.
8 posted on 06/14/2003 1:04:20 PM PDT by lilylangtree
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: No Dems 2004
. In the end, the pro-family movement almost repealed the law, getting a stunning 47% of the vote in favor of the repeal on a day when most of the voters were showing up to vote in a Democratic primary – giving it a leftward tilt. Pro-family groups insisted that, if it hadn’t been a Democratic-leaning voting day, the homosexuals would have lost the battle, even in South Florida’s Miami-Dade.

Revisionist history.

One of the reasons the anti-gay referendum lost was because of the criminal and immoral conduct of the anti-gay leaders, such as falsifying signatures and tampering with witnesses.

Another reason was the false propaganda spouted by the anti-gay leaders when the Miami-Dade non-discrimination ordinance first passed. Among other fibs, the anti-gay leaders claimed that transvestites will be forced to be hired at Christian bookstores, and homosexual men will be using the ladies' washrooms, among other Chicken Little predictions.

The voters were repulsed by the "Christian" right's tactics.

9 posted on 06/14/2003 1:04:21 PM PDT by george wythe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: No Dems 2004
The USCC would never have taken this case unless they already intended to strike down the sodomy laws.

They are influenced by public opinion, and try to avoid going out on limbs; but they are more influenced by the opinions of the liberal elite with whom they consort at social functions, dinners, etc.
10 posted on 06/14/2003 1:09:50 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

Comment #12 Removed by Moderator

To: All
These are useful statistics to have on hand for "diversity" training.
13 posted on 06/14/2003 2:00:29 PM PDT by Huber
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #14 Removed by Moderator

To: No Dems 2004
In May 2002, by a margin of 55%-38%, Americans regarded homosexuality as morally wrong, and 43% felt that homosexual relations between 2 consenting adults should be illegal, while 52% felt they should be legal. That was very close to what Americans said in May 2001. But, in May 2003, all of the sudden, we had this sharp rise in pro-homosexuality that really made me wonder when I read it. A majority of Americans still regarded homosexuality as morally wrong in the 2003 poll, but only by a margin of 52%-44%. And, all of the sudden, a whopping 60% felt that homosexual relations between consenting adults should be legal, while only 35% (a sharp drop of 8 points) felt that it should not be legal.

I dont know how to break it to you but you may be fretting over nothing. There is likely no statistically significant difference between the findings in 2002 and 2003. The one exception might be the 60% feeling that homosexual relations should be legal. You left out the sample sizes for both surveys so its impossible to say whether the differnces noted are statistically significant or not.

For example on the question of whether homosexuality is morally wrong. In 2002 the percentages were 55% vs. 38%. In 2003, the percentages were 52% vs. 44%. There is no significant difference in the percentage stating its immoral. However, you need a sample size of about 1000 each for the 38% and 44% saying that it is moral to be significantly different at 95% confidence.

Also fact that homosexuality hasnt been in the news much lately could be cause for more tolerant views. The more in your face the extreme gays are, the more likely those polled are to say homosexuality is wrong and should be illegal.

Also in comparing results, you have to take into consideration how the questions were worded and what other questions were asked prior to asking these questions. Also you want to make sure that the universe polled is the same.

15 posted on 06/14/2003 2:20:28 PM PDT by Dave S
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: setcapt
"Homosexuality is so wrong."

I agree.

"And please don't combine the word poll and homo in the same article."

I use polls in my article to make points. I don't agree with your saying I shouldn't.
16 posted on 06/14/2003 3:12:46 PM PDT by No Dems 2004
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: tl361
"Is it possible that they happened to reach a more gay-friendly portion of the population this time? Of course... they use random sampling."

Just as I said: In polling they call this a 'fluke'. Please read my top paragraph. I'm quite sure that Gallup follows the same technique every year. From what I can tell, Quinnipiac College has been polling for a long time, especially in the Northeast, and I feel that their polls are probably pretty accurate. Actually, they often seem to have a little bit of a liberal slant. They sampled the usual number of people from what I can tell, and they were Americans, not voters. The question is worded almost identically, so I think that Gallup made a mistake, either intentionally or unintentionally.

I don't know if you're pro-gay or not, but your last paragraph wasn't really called for. Homosexuality hasn't been in the news all that excessively this year over last.
17 posted on 06/14/2003 3:19:26 PM PDT by No Dems 2004
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: No Dems 2004
SPOTREP
18 posted on 06/14/2003 4:10:55 PM PDT by LiteKeeper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #19 Removed by Moderator

To: No Dems 2004
Maybe setcapt needs a 20 foot pole for you.
20 posted on 06/14/2003 4:55:17 PM PDT by Old Professer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-27 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson