Des Moines, IA — A majority of Iowans oppose passage of a state constitutional amendment which would ban gay marriage in Iowa, the Des Moines Register reported.

Fifty-six percent of the 800 adults interviewed by the paper said they do not favor such a measure, while 38 percent said they do. Opposition increased 2 percentage points since last year's survey.

The poll, which has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, was conducted between February 12-15.

Republicans favor the ban by 54 percent, and independents by 35 percent. Only 15 percent of Democrats said they would vote for the measure.

The Iowa Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in 2009, angering social conservatives who have called for a public vote on the issue.

The proposed amendment easily cleared the Republican-controlled Iowa House last year but Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal blocked the measure from reaching the Senate floor.

"People's rights should not be put to a popular vote," Gronstal said. "We didn't put slavery to a vote of the people in Iowa. We didn't put the right to go to a school in your neighborhood to a vote of the people, and we didn't put the public accommodations law to a vote of the people in Iowa."

A large percentage of those interviewed (33%) said they didn't care much either way.


Article provided in partnership with On Top Magazine