Earlier this year President Barack Obama made history by becoming the first sitting president to endorse marriage equality for same-sex couples. Recent polls reveal that the president’s position on the issue now falls squarely in line with the increasing majority of Americans who support the freedom to marry. These polls show increased support among nearly every single demographic group, including men, African Americans, Latinos, political independents, and generations young and old.
In short, marriage equality is now a mainstream American value. Just a decade ago, however, a majority of Americans opposed laws and policies that extended marital rights to same-sex couples. In the ensuing 10 years, the United States has come a long way with states passing marriage equality legislation, national leaders coming out in support of equal relationship recognition rights, and same-sex couples sharing their stories of love and commitment with their friends and family.
A new column by Crosby Burns and Ben Harris analyzes several polls released over the past two months. The authors break down the numbers to provide a clear picture of where the issue stands overall with the public, different demographic groups, and among voters in states with upcoming marriage referendums.
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