Two men marry in Connecticut on November 12th (Newsweek)the latest NEWSWEEK Poll finds growing public support for gay marriage and civil unions—and strong backing for the granting of certain rights associated with marriage, to same-sex couples. (Click here to see the full poll.)
Americans continue to find civil unions for gays and lesbians more palatable than full-fledged marriage. Fifty-five percent of respondents favored legally sanctioned unions or partnerships, while only 39 percent supported marriage rights. Both figures are notably higher than in 2004, when 40 percent backed the former and 33 percent approved of the latter.When it comes to according legal rights in specific areas to gays, the public is even more supportive. Seventy-four percent back inheritance rights for gay domestic partners (compared to 60 percent in 2004), 73 percent approve of extending health insurance and other employee benefits to them (compared to 60 percent in 2004), 67 percent favor granting them Social Security benefits (compared to 55 percent in 2004) and 86 percent support hospital visitation rights (a question that wasn't asked four years ago).
In other areas, too, respondents appeared increasingly tolerant. Fifty-three percent favor gay adoption rights (8 points more than in 2004), and 66 percent believe gays should be able to serve openly in the military (6 points more than in 2004).
Despite the recently approved state measures, public opinion nationally has shifted against a federal ban on same-sex marriage. In 2004, people were evenly divided on the question, with 47 percent favoring a constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage and 45 percent opposing one.In the latest poll, however, 52 percent oppose a ban and only 43 percent favor one. When respondents were asked about state measures, the numbers were closer: 45 percent said they'd vote in favor of an amendment outlawing gay marriage in their states, while 49 percent said they'd oppose such a measure. . . .
One reason that tolerance for gay marriage and civil unions may be on the rise is that a growing number of Americans say they know someone who's gay. While in 1994, a NEWSWEEK Poll found that only 53 percent of those questioned knew a gay or lesbian person, that figure today is 78 percent.Drilling down a bit more, 38 percent of adults work with someone gay, 33 percent have a gay family member and 66 percent have a gay friend or acquaintance.
3 comments:
the more straights know a gay person,one on one, the better.
Well yeah, that helps to some degree.
However, I get frustrated with the idea that that's all it takes, just come out to everybody and the world will be wonderful.
In Germany under Nazi rule, people knew perfectly well who the Jews were. They lived next door to them, their children went to the same schools, they shopped in Jewish stores, etc. Yet that didn't stop the Holocaust.
In my own lifetime, I remember very clearly growing up in the segregated South. Certainly everybody knew who the blacks were. That knowledge alone did absolutely nothing about segregation and civil rights.
And certainly all these many centuries, men knew who the women were: there wives, mothers, daughters, etc. Which of itself did nothing to advance the cause of women's rights.
Of course, our situation and experience is not precisely the same as those three; and it certainly is a good thing to come out of the closet, don't get me wrong. Much of our existence has been eaten up desperately trying to "pass" and to hide the fact of our sexuality, which is a soul-destroying thing.
But we can't stop there, something more than that is needed, seems to me like . . . .
yea, russ, i attended a rally back in nov. here in chicago for gay marriage. i have pics i took on my blog. 5000 people showed up. it felt so good being there,like i was a part of something much bigger. surrounded by gay men and women,it was empowering and overwhelming at the same time. i felt more pride than at ANY pride parade...
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