Same-sex Marriage - Studies and Polling

Studies and Polling

Polling and studies on the issue has been conducted throughout the first decade of the 21st century as well as before. These polls and studies have shown a consistent trend of increasing support for same-sex marriage across the world. Many developed countries achieved a majority of people in support of same-sex marriage in the first decade of the 21st century. Support for legalization has increased across every age group, political ideology, religion, gender, race, and region of various developed countries in the world.

Various detailed polls and studies about same-sex marriage conducted in several countries generally show that support for same-sex marriage increases with higher levels of education, and that younger people are more likely to support the legalization of it than older generations. Polls show the most right-wing religious people are more likely to oppose it. In each U.S. state to hold a voter referendum on the issue prior to November 2012, the public has rejected same-sex marriage laws. However, recent polls indicate that more than half of Americans support same-sex marriage, approximately 53%. Several polls and studies have shown that people who personally know a person who is gay are much more likely to support LGBT rights and same-sex marriage than those who do not. Voters in Maine, Maryland and Washington approved same-sex marriage by referendum on 6 November 2012.