Do you think gay or lesbian relations between consenting adults should or should not be legal?
|
Should |
Should not |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2009 May 7-10 |
56 |
40 |
4 |
|
2008 May 8-11 ^ |
55 |
40 |
5 |
|
2007 May 10-13 |
59 |
37 |
4 |
|
2006 May 8-11 † |
56 |
40 |
4 |
|
2005 Aug 22-25 |
49 |
44 |
7 |
|
2005 May 2-5 |
52 |
43 |
5 |
|
2004 May 2-4 |
52 |
43 |
5 |
|
2004 Jan 9-11 |
46 |
49 |
5 |
|
2003 Jul 25-27 |
48 |
46 |
6 |
|
2003 Jul 18-20 |
50 |
44 |
6 |
|
2003 May 19-21 |
59 |
37 |
4 |
|
2003 May 5-7 |
60 |
35 |
5 |
|
2002 May 6-9 |
52 |
43 |
5 |
|
2001 May 10-14 |
54 |
42 |
4 |
|
1999 Feb 8-9 |
50 |
43 |
7 |
|
1996 Nov 21-24 |
44 |
47 |
9 |
|
1992 Jun 4-8 |
48 |
44 |
8 |
|
1989 Oct 12-15 |
47 |
36 |
17 |
|
1988 Jul 1-7 |
35 |
57 |
11 |
|
1987 Mar 14-18 |
33 |
55 |
12 |
|
1986 Sep 13-17 |
33 |
54 |
13 |
|
1986 Jul 11-14 |
32 |
57 |
11 |
|
1985 Nov 11-18 |
44 |
47 |
9 |
|
1982 Jun 25-28 |
45 |
39 |
16 |
|
1977 Jun 17-20 |
43 |
43 |
14 |
|
^ 1977-2008 wording: Do you think homosexual relations between consenting adults should or should not be legal? |
|||
|
† Asked of a half sample |
|||
In your view, is being gay or lesbian -- [ROTATED: something a person is born with, (or) due to factors such as upbringing and environment]?
|
Born |
Upbringing/ |
Both |
Neither |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2009 May 7-10 |
35 |
42 |
12 |
2 |
9 |
|
2008 May 8-11 ^ |
41 |
38 |
9 |
2 |
9 |
|
2007 May 10-13 |
42 |
35 |
11 |
2 |
9 |
|
2006 May 8-11 † |
42 |
37 |
11 |
2 |
8 |
|
2005 May 2-5 |
38 |
44 |
10 |
2 |
6 |
|
2004 May 2-4 |
37 |
41 |
11 |
3 |
8 |
|
2003 May 5-7 |
38 |
44 |
11 |
2 |
5 |
|
2002 May 6-9 |
40 |
36 |
12 |
4 |
8 |
|
2001 May 10-14 |
40 |
39 |
9 |
3 |
9 |
|
1999 Feb 8-9 |
34 |
44 |
13 |
1 |
8 |
|
1996 Nov 21-24 |
31 |
40 |
13 |
3 |
13 |
|
1989 Oct 12-15 |
19 |
48 |
12 |
2 |
19 |
|
1982 Jun 25-28 |
17 |
52 |
13 |
2 |
16 |
|
1977 Jun 17-20 |
13 |
56 |
14 |
3 |
15 |
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
|||||
|
^ 1977-2008 wording: In your view, is homosexuality -- [ROTATED: something a person is born with, (or is homosexuality) due to factors such as upbringing and environment]? |
|||||
|
† Asked of a half sample |
|||||
Do you think marriages between same-sex couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?
|
Should |
Should not |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2009 May 7-10 |
40 |
57 |
3 |
|
2008 May 8-11 † |
40 |
56 |
4 |
|
2007 May 10-13 |
46 |
53 |
1 |
|
2006 May 8-11 † |
42 |
56 |
2 |
|
2006 May 8-11 ^† |
39 |
58 |
4 |
|
2005 Aug 22-25 ^ |
37 |
59 |
4 |
|
2004 May 2-4 ^ |
42 |
55 |
3 |
|
1999 Feb 8-9 ^ |
35 |
62 |
3 |
|
1996 Mar 15-17 ^ |
27 |
68 |
5 |
|
^ WORDING: Do you think marriages between homosexuals should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages? |
|||
|
† Asked of a half sample |
|||
Trends for Comparison: Polls in which gay marriage question NOT preceded by question(s) on homosexual rights and relations
|
Should |
Should not |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2005 Apr 29-May 1 |
39 |
56 |
5 |
|
2005 Mar 18-20 ^ |
28 |
68 |
4 |
|
2004 Jul 19-21 ^ |
32 |
62 |
6 |
|
2004 Mar 5-7 |
33 |
61 |
6 |
|
2004 Feb 16-17 |
32 |
64 |
4 |
|
2004 Feb 6-8 ^ |
36 |
59 |
5 |
|
2003 Dec 15-16 |
31 |
65 |
4 |
|
2003 Oct 24-26 |
35 |
61 |
4 |
|
2003 Jun 27-29 |
39 |
55 |
6 |
|
2000 Jan 13-16 |
34 |
62 |
4 |
|
^ Asked of a half sample |
|||
Just your best guess, do you think that allowing two people of the same sex to legally marry will change our society for -- [ROTATED: the better, will it have no effect, or will it change our society for the worse]?
|
Better |
No effect |
Worse |
No opinion |
|
|
2009 May 7-10 |
13% |
36 |
48 |
2 |
|
2003 Sep 19-21 |
10% |
40 |
48 |
2 |
Do you favor or oppose allowing openly gay men and lesbian women to serve in the military?
|
Favor |
Oppose |
No opinion |
|
|
2009 May 7-10 |
69% |
26 |
6 |
|
2004 Nov 19-21 |
63% |
32 |
5 |
Do you think there should or should not be -- [RANDOM ORDER]?
A. Adoption rights for gays and lesbians so they can legally adopt children
|
Yes, should be |
No, should not be |
No opinion |
|
|
2009 May 7-10 |
54% |
44 |
2 |
B. Health insurance and other employee benefits for gay and lesbian domestic partners
|
Yes, should be |
No, should not be |
No opinion |
|
|
2009 May 7-10 |
67% |
30 |
2 |
C. Inheritance rights for gay and lesbian domestic partners
|
Yes, should be |
No, should not be |
No opinion |
|
|
2009 May 7-10 |
73% |
24 |
4 |
As you may know, federal law currently allows prosecution of hate crimes committed on the basis of the victim's race, color, religion or national origin. There is a proposal to expand federal hate crime laws to include crimes committed against people because they are gay or lesbian. Would you favor or oppose expanding the federal hate crime laws in this way?
|
Favor |
Oppose |
No opinion |
|
|
2009 May 7-10 |
67% |
29 |
3 |
Are you, personally, comfortable or uncomfortable when you are around someone you know is gay or lesbian?
|
Comfortable |
Uncomfortable |
No opinion |
|
|
2009 May 7-10 |
78% |
18 |
4 |
Do you have any friends or relatives or coworkers who have told you, personally, that they are gay or lesbian?
|
Yes |
No |
No opinion |
|
|
2009 May 7-10 |
58% |
40 |
3 |
|
2008 May 30-Jun 1 |
57% |
42 |
1 |
|
2004 Jan 9-11 |
58% |
42 |
* |
|
2003 Jul 18-20 |
56% |
43 |
1 |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||
Would you favor or oppose a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as being between a man and a woman, thus barring marriages between gay or lesbian couples?
|
Favor |
Oppose |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2008 May 8-11^ |
49 |
48 |
3 |
|
2006 May 8-11 |
50 |
47 |
3 |
|
2005 Apr 29-May 1 |
53 |
44 |
3 |
|
2005 Mar 18-20 |
57 |
37 |
6 |
|
2004 Jul 19-21 ^ |
48 |
46 |
6 |
|
2004 May 2-4 |
51 |
45 |
4 |
|
2004 Mar 5-7 |
50 |
45 |
5 |
|
2004 Feb 9-12 |
53 |
44 |
3 |
|
2004 Feb 6-8 ^ |
47 |
47 |
6 |
|
2003 Jul 18-20 |
50 |
45 |
5 |
|
^ Asked of a half sample |
|||
Do you feel that homosexuality should be considered an acceptable alternative lifestyle or not?
|
Acceptable |
Not acceptable |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2008 May 8-11 |
57 |
40 |
3 |
|
2007 May 10-13 |
57 |
39 |
3 |
|
2006 May 8-11 ^ |
54 |
41 |
4 |
|
2005 May 2-5 ^ |
51 |
45 |
4 |
|
2004 May 2-4 |
54 |
42 |
4 |
|
2003 Jul 25-27 |
46 |
49 |
5 |
|
2003 May 5-7 |
54 |
43 |
3 |
|
2002 May 6-9 |
51 |
44 |
5 |
|
2001 May 10-14 |
52 |
43 |
5 |
|
1999 Feb 8-9 ^ |
50 |
46 |
4 |
|
1997 Apr 18-20 ^ |
42 |
52 |
6 |
|
1996 Mar 15-17 ^ |
44 |
50 |
6 |
|
1992 Jun 4-8 |
38 |
57 |
5 |
|
1982 Jun 25-28 |
34 |
51 |
15 |
|
^ Asked of half sample |
|||
As you may know, there has been considerable discussion in the news regarding the rights of homosexual men and women. In general, do you think homosexuals should or should not have equal rights in terms of job opportunities?
|
Yes, |
No, |
Depends |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2008 May 8-11 |
89 |
8 |
1 |
1 |
|
2007 May 10-13 |
89 |
8 |
1 |
2 |
|
2006 May 8-11 ^ |
89 |
9 |
1 |
1 |
|
2005 May 2-5 |
87 |
11 |
1 |
1 |
|
2004 May 2-4 † |
89 |
8 |
1 |
2 |
|
2003 May 19-21 |
88 |
10 |
1 |
1 |
|
2003 May 5-7 |
88 |
9 |
2 |
1 |
|
2002 May 6-9 |
86 |
11 |
1 |
2 |
|
2001 May 10-14 |
85 |
11 |
3 |
1 |
|
1999 Feb 8-9 |
83 |
13 |
2 |
2 |
|
1996 Nov 21-24 |
84 |
12 |
2 |
2 |
|
1993 Apr 22-24 |
80 |
14 |
-- |
6 |
|
1992 Jun 4-7 |
74 |
18 |
-- |
8 |
|
1989 Oct 12-15 |
71 |
18 |
-- |
11 |
|
1982 Jun 25-28 |
59 |
28 |
-- |
13 |
|
1977 Jun 17-20 |
56 |
33 |
-- |
11 |
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
||||
|
† WORDING: As you may know, there has been considerable discussion in the news regarding the rights of homosexual men and women. In general, do you think homosexuals should or should not have equal rights in terms of job opportunities? |
||||
Would you like to see homosexuality be more widely accepted in this nation, less widely accepted, or is the acceptance of homosexuality in this nation today about right?
|
More |
Less |
About |
Other |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2007 Jan 15-18 |
33 |
37 |
27 |
* |
3 |
|
2006 Jan 9-12 |
31 |
38 |
27 |
1 |
3 |
|
2005 Jan 3-5 |
29 |
36 |
30 |
1 |
4 |
|
2004 Jan 12-15 |
30 |
35 |
31 |
1 |
3 |
|
2003 Jan 13-16 |
28 |
31 |
34 |
1 |
6 |
|
2002 Jan 7-9 |
29 |
33 |
32 |
1 |
5 |
|
2001 Jan 10-14 |
29 |
34 |
33 |
1 |
3 |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
|||||
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
|||||
Do you think that homosexual couples should be legally permitted to adopt children?
|
Yes, should be |
No, should not be |
No opinion |
|
|
2007 Sep 7-8 |
46% |
50 |
4 |
As you may know, under the current military policy, no one in the military is asked whether or not they are gay. But if they reveal that they are gay or they engage in homosexual activity, they will be discharged from the military. Do you personally think -- [ROTATED: gays should be allowed to serve openly in the military, gays should be allowed to serve under the current policy, or gays should not be allowed to serve in the military under any circumstances]?
|
Serve |
Serve under |
Not serve |
No |
|
|
2007 Jul 6-8 |
46% |
36 |
15 |
3 |
|
2000 Jan 13-16 ^ |
41% |
38 |
17 |
4 |
|
^ WORDING: As you may know, under the current military policy, no one in the military is asked whether or not they are homosexual. But if they reveal that they are homosexual and they engage in homosexual activity, they will be discharged from the military. Do you personally think -- gays should be allowed to serve openly in the military, gays should be allowed to serve under the current policy, or gays should not be allowed to serve in the military under any circumstances? |
||||
Do you think homosexuals should or should not be hired for each of the following occupations? First, ... Next, ... [RANDOM ORDER]?
A. Salesperson
|
Should |
Should not |
Depends (vol.) |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2005 May 2-5 |
90 |
7 |
1 |
2 |
|
2003 May 19-21 |
92 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
|
2001 May 10-14 |
91 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
|
1999 Feb 8-9 |
90 |
8 |
1 |
1 |
|
1996 Nov 21-24 |
90 |
7 |
1 |
2 |
|
1992 Jun 4-8 |
82 |
13 |
3 |
2 |
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
||||
B. The armed forces
|
Should |
Should not |
Depends (vol.) |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2005 May 2-5 |
76 |
22 |
1 |
1 |
|
2003 May 19-21 |
80 |
18 |
1 |
1 |
|
2001 May 10-14 |
72 |
23 |
2 |
3 |
|
1999 Feb 8-9 |
70 |
26 |
2 |
2 |
|
1996 Nov 21-24 |
65 |
29 |
3 |
3 |
|
1992 Jun 4-8 |
57 |
37 |
2 |
4 |
C. Doctors
|
Should |
Should not |
Depends (vol.) |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2005 May 2-5 |
78 |
19 |
1 |
2 |
|
2003 May 19-21 |
82 |
16 |
1 |
1 |
|
2001 May 10-14 |
78 |
18 |
2 |
2 |
|
1999 Feb 8-9 |
75 |
21 |
2 |
2 |
|
1996 Nov 21-24 |
69 |
25 |
3 |
3 |
|
1992 Jun 4-8 |
53 |
42 |
2 |
3 |
D. Clergy
|
Should |
Should not |
Depends (vol.) |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2005 May 2-5 |
49 |
47 |
1 |
3 |
|
2003 May 19-21 |
56 |
39 |
2 |
3 |
|
2001 May 10-14 |
54 |
39 |
2 |
5 |
|
1999 Feb 8-9 |
54 |
40 |
2 |
4 |
|
1996 Nov 21-24 |
53 |
40 |
3 |
4 |
|
1992 Jun 4-8 |
43 |
50 |
2 |
5 |
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
||||
E. Elementary school teachers
|
Should |
Should not |
Depends (vol.) |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2005 May 2-5 |
54 |
43 |
2 |
1 |
|
2003 May 19-21 |
61 |
37 |
2 |
* |
|
2001 May 10-14 |
56 |
40 |
3 |
1 |
|
1999 Feb 8-9 |
54 |
42 |
2 |
2 |
|
1996 Nov 21-24 |
55 |
40 |
3 |
2 |
|
1992 Jun 4-8 |
41 |
54 |
3 |
2 |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
||||
F. High school teachers
|
Should |
Should not |
Depends (vol.) |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2005 May 2-5 |
62 |
36 |
1 |
1 |
|
2003 May 19-21 |
67 |
30 |
2 |
1 |
|
2001 May 10-14 |
63 |
33 |
3 |
1 |
|
1999 Feb 8-9 |
61 |
36 |
2 |
1 |
|
1996 Nov 21-24 |
60 |
34 |
3 |
3 |
|
1992 Jun 4-8 |
47 |
49 |
2 |
2 |
G. As a member of the president's Cabinet
|
Should |
Should not |
Depends (vol.) |
No |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2005 May 2-5 |
75 |
23 |
* |
2 |
|
2003 May 19-21 |
79 |
19 |
* |
2 |
|
2001 May 10-14 |
75 |
21 |
2 |
2 |
|
1999 Feb 8-9 |
74 |
23 |
1 |
2 |
|
1996 Nov 21-24 |
71 |
24 |
2 |
3 |
|
1992 Jun 4-8 |
54 |
39 |
3 |
4 |
|
* Less than 0.5% |
||||
|
(vol.) = Volunteered response |
||||
Which of the following arrangements between gay or lesbian couples do you think should be recognized as legally valid -- same-sex marriages, civil unions, but not same-sex marriages, or neither same-sex marriages nor civil unions?
|
Same-sex |
Civil |
|
No |
||
|
2005 Mar 18-20 ^ |
20% |
27 |
45 |
8 |
|
|
2004 Nov 19-21 |
21% |
32 |
43 |
4 |
|
|
^ Asked of a half sample |
|||||
Would you favor or oppose a law that would allow homosexual couples to legally form civil unions, giving them some of the legal rights of married couples?
|
Favor |
Oppose |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2004 May 2-4 |
49 |
48 |
3 |
|
2003 Jul 25-27 |
40 |
57 |
3 |
|
2003 May 5-7 |
49 |
49 |
2 |
|
2002 May 6-9 |
46 |
51 |
3 |
|
2002 Apr 8-11 |
45 |
46 |
9 |
|
2002 Feb 8-10 |
41 |
53 |
6 |
|
2001 May 10-14 |
44 |
52 |
4 |
|
2000 Oct 25-28 ^ |
42 |
54 |
4 |
|
^ WORDING: Suppose that on election day this year you could vote on key issues as well as candidates. Please tell me whether you would vote for or against each one of the following propositions. Would you vote -- [RANDOM ORDER]? (For or against a law that would allow homosexual couples to legally form civil unions, giving them some of the legal rights of married couples) |
|||
Do you think people who are openly gay or homosexual should -- or should not -- be allowed to serve in the U.S. military?
|
Yes, should |
No, should not |
No opinion |
|
|
2003 Dec 5-7 |
79% |
18 |
3 |
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