U.S. Acceptance of Same‑Sex Marriage Stalls as GOP Support Declines
A new Gallup survey conducted from May 1–17 shows overall support for same‑sex marriage has flattened after more than two decades of growth, with a sharp decline among Republican voters. Fifty‑five percent of all U.S. adults say same‑sex marriage should be legal, down from 71% in 2022 and 2023.
Republican decline: Only 37% of Republicans approve of legal same‑sex marriage, while 35% view gay and lesbian relationships as morally acceptable. Democrats and independents maintain high support—over 70% in both categories.
Moral views: Acceptance of gay and lesbian relationships fell to 62%, down from 71% last year. Acceptance of gender transition also slipped to 40% from nearly 50% in 2021.
Historical trend: In 1996, only 27% of adults supported legal same‑sex marriage, a figure that rose steadily over two decades to a 2015 peak of about 70%. The recent dip signals a possible plateau.
State actions: Over a dozen states introduced bills to ban same‑sex marriage, while others passed measures protecting it. Despite these legislative attempts, nationwide recognition remains intact after the 2015 Supreme Court ruling.
Transgender policies: Republican‑controlled jurisdictions have enacted restrictions on gender‑affirming medical care for minors, bathroom access, and sports participation. Federal attempts to ban transgender troops were overturned by a court last week.
Gallup’s poll involved 1,001 adult phone interviews with a ±4.0% margin of error for the national sample.
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