Washington, D.C. -
The Human Rights Campaign released data from a new bi-partisan poll today conducted by the Democratic polling firm of Peter D. Hart Research Associates and the Republican firm American Viewpoint, showing that 63 percent of registered voters support or would accept that gays and lesbians receive the same rights and protections as other Americans.
Post Your Take: Gay Marriage
The Hart/American Viewpoint Poll is in accordance with another poll released today by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News showing that 53 percent of the country favors allowing gay and lesbian couples to enter into legal agreements with each other that are not marriages, but that would give them many of the same legal and financial relationships as married couples.
The Hart/American Viewpoint poll also showed that 50 percent of registered voters support or accept granting civil marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples with the same rights, responsibilities and protections given to other married couples, as long as religious institutions do not have to recognize or perform these marriages. Forty-seven percent oppose.
"Despite claims to the contrary, there is no consensus in this country around denying the legal protections of marriage to gay and lesbian couples. In fact, polls show us that a plurality of voters support or accept granting marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples," said HRC Communications Director and Senior Strategist David M. Smith.
"We also know that the overwhelming trend in public opinion has been moving steadily toward equality for gay and lesbian Americans."
Earlier this month two other national polls indicated that opposition to gay marriage is softening, although most Americans still believe same-sex couples should be barred from marriage. (365gay.com story) In addition, a separate poll of residents within the state of New Jersey showed that 55 percent of more than 800 likely voters said the state’s ban on same-sex marriage should be abolished. Only 41 percent said it should be retained. (365gay.com story)
According to the Hart/American Viewpoint Poll, critical groups to both parties are supportive or accepting of providing civil marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples in long-term, committed relationships - from women and suburban voters to Independents and Southern Democrats, according to the Hart/American Viewpoint Poll of 800 registered voters nationwide. The Hart/American Viewpoint Poll was conducted July 9-11 and had a margin of error of 3.5 percent. It reflects trends shown in numerous public polls over the past several years.
A plurality of voters either support or find acceptable the idea of gay marriage. This is true whether the scenario is described as "granting civil marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples with the same rights, responsibilities, and protections given to other married couples, as long as religious institutions do not have to recognize or perform these marriages" (50 percent support/acceptable, 47 percent oppose) or "gays and lesbians would have the same right to marry as heterosexual couples with the same legal rights, responsibilities, and protections" (49 percent support/acceptable, 44 percent oppose).
Either way, said Smith, it is clear that more voters support the idea of gay marriage or find it acceptable than oppose it.
"When many people hear the word marriage, they think of the religious institution. What we are really talking about with civil marriage are the legal rights and protections that provide couples in this country with security for their relationships and families," said HRC Political Director Winnie Stachelberg.
There are more than 1,000 federal rights, benefits, protections and responsibilities associated with civil marriage in this country, according to a 1997 study by the General Accounting Office. Gay and lesbian couples, in lifelong relationships pay higher taxes and are denied basic protections under the law. For example, they can be denied the right to visit a sick or injured loved one in the hospital. They receive no Social Security survivor benefits, despite paying payroll taxes. They must pay federal income taxes on their domestic partner's health insurance, while other employees do not have to pay income tax on benefits for their married partners. They must pay all estate taxes when a partner dies. They pay significant penalties on IRA and pension rollovers. They are denied health benefits under COBRA and family leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
If gay and lesbian couples are allowed to marry, the state and federal government would provide them with the same rights and protections that most Americans take for granted. With civil marriage protections, gay and lesbian couples would be more secure in knowing that they can visit each other in the hospital, share health insurance coverage, and get equal pensions and other survivor benefits if one spouse dies. In short, they would have all of the legal protections and rights that provide security to a married couple.
"Ultimately, this debate is about fairness and equality under the law. Gay and lesbian Americans in this country essentially pay higher taxes for fewer rights and protections than other Americans, and
that is wrong," said Smith.
by Doreen Brandt
365Gay.com Newscenter
Washington Bureau
©365Gay.com® 2003
Post Your Take: Gay Marriage
The Hart/American Viewpoint Poll is in accordance with another poll released today by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News showing that 53 percent of the country favors allowing gay and lesbian couples to enter into legal agreements with each other that are not marriages, but that would give them many of the same legal and financial relationships as married couples.
The Hart/American Viewpoint poll also showed that 50 percent of registered voters support or accept granting civil marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples with the same rights, responsibilities and protections given to other married couples, as long as religious institutions do not have to recognize or perform these marriages. Forty-seven percent oppose.
"Despite claims to the contrary, there is no consensus in this country around denying the legal protections of marriage to gay and lesbian couples. In fact, polls show us that a plurality of voters support or accept granting marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples," said HRC Communications Director and Senior Strategist David M. Smith.
"We also know that the overwhelming trend in public opinion has been moving steadily toward equality for gay and lesbian Americans."
Earlier this month two other national polls indicated that opposition to gay marriage is softening, although most Americans still believe same-sex couples should be barred from marriage. (365gay.com story) In addition, a separate poll of residents within the state of New Jersey showed that 55 percent of more than 800 likely voters said the state’s ban on same-sex marriage should be abolished. Only 41 percent said it should be retained. (365gay.com story)
According to the Hart/American Viewpoint Poll, critical groups to both parties are supportive or accepting of providing civil marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples in long-term, committed relationships - from women and suburban voters to Independents and Southern Democrats, according to the Hart/American Viewpoint Poll of 800 registered voters nationwide. The Hart/American Viewpoint Poll was conducted July 9-11 and had a margin of error of 3.5 percent. It reflects trends shown in numerous public polls over the past several years.
A plurality of voters either support or find acceptable the idea of gay marriage. This is true whether the scenario is described as "granting civil marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples with the same rights, responsibilities, and protections given to other married couples, as long as religious institutions do not have to recognize or perform these marriages" (50 percent support/acceptable, 47 percent oppose) or "gays and lesbians would have the same right to marry as heterosexual couples with the same legal rights, responsibilities, and protections" (49 percent support/acceptable, 44 percent oppose).
Either way, said Smith, it is clear that more voters support the idea of gay marriage or find it acceptable than oppose it.
"When many people hear the word marriage, they think of the religious institution. What we are really talking about with civil marriage are the legal rights and protections that provide couples in this country with security for their relationships and families," said HRC Political Director Winnie Stachelberg.
There are more than 1,000 federal rights, benefits, protections and responsibilities associated with civil marriage in this country, according to a 1997 study by the General Accounting Office. Gay and lesbian couples, in lifelong relationships pay higher taxes and are denied basic protections under the law. For example, they can be denied the right to visit a sick or injured loved one in the hospital. They receive no Social Security survivor benefits, despite paying payroll taxes. They must pay federal income taxes on their domestic partner's health insurance, while other employees do not have to pay income tax on benefits for their married partners. They must pay all estate taxes when a partner dies. They pay significant penalties on IRA and pension rollovers. They are denied health benefits under COBRA and family leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
If gay and lesbian couples are allowed to marry, the state and federal government would provide them with the same rights and protections that most Americans take for granted. With civil marriage protections, gay and lesbian couples would be more secure in knowing that they can visit each other in the hospital, share health insurance coverage, and get equal pensions and other survivor benefits if one spouse dies. In short, they would have all of the legal protections and rights that provide security to a married couple.
"Ultimately, this debate is about fairness and equality under the law. Gay and lesbian Americans in this country essentially pay higher taxes for fewer rights and protections than other Americans, and
that is wrong," said Smith.
by Doreen Brandt
365Gay.com Newscenter
Washington Bureau
©365Gay.com® 2003
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.
