Polls Find Californians Weary of Gay Marriage Ballot Measure
Polls Find Californians Weary of Gay Marriage Ballot Measure
Having just marked the one year anniversary of the passage of Proposition 8, a new poll finds that Californians are weary of the issue and do not want to see it return to the ballot. A joint study by the LA Times and the University of Southern California claims that although a slim majority of 51% of Californians approve of homosexual marriage, a strong 60% of those polled oppose a ballot measure on marriage returning next year.
Just last week, the people of Maine voted to protect the institution of marriage as only between a man and a woman, marking the 31st state – out of 31 attempts – to strengthen historic marriage laws.
The survey results mirror the current tensions in the same-sex marriage camp, as individuals and major groups disagree over the timeline to bring the subject of marriage’s definition back to the people of California. Representing the more aggressive wing of the same-sex marriage proponents, the leadership of the “Courage Campaign” believes the subject must be placed on the ballot in 2010, while other groups believe that 2012, or even later, may allow the culture to become more approving, gaining the necessary votes to overturn Proposition 8.
A summary of multiple and recent state and national surveys shows a willingness by the people to provide protections to homosexual couples through domestic partnership or civil union registrations. At the same time, polls do not suggest that people are any more willing to redefine marriage to include any two people.
“As people become more informed of the benefits that the institution of marriage continues to provide to children and society, they are bolstered in their support of man-woman marriage, “ said Ron Prentice, CEO of California Family Council. “Because traditional marriage has been commonplace, until recently people have not been reminded of marriage’s purpose. But redefining marriage wrongly downplays a child’s need for both a mother and father, and creates discrimination against any who disagree with same-sex marriage. As voters have displayed across the country, the American conscience rejects homosexual marriage.”
The LA Times/USC poll also showed a diversity of perspectives between political parties, with 66% of Democrat respondents favoring gay marriage, 71% of Republicans opposing it, and 59% of “non-partisan” voters also in favor.
Posted on November 13, 2009
Having just marked the one year anniversary of the passage of Proposition 8, a new poll finds that Californians are weary of the issue and do not want to see it return to the ballot. A joint study by the LA Times and the University of Southern California claims that although a slim majority of 51% of Californians approve of homosexual marriage, a strong 60% of those polled oppose a ballot measure on marriage returning next year.
Just last week, the people of Maine voted to protect the institution of marriage as only between a man and a woman, marking the 31st state – out of 31 attempts – to strengthen historic marriage laws.
The survey results mirror the current tensions in the same-sex marriage camp, as individuals and major groups disagree over the timeline to bring the subject of marriage’s definition back to the people of California. Representing the more aggressive wing of the same-sex marriage proponents, the leadership of the “Courage Campaign” believes the subject must be placed on the ballot in 2010, while other groups believe that 2012, or even later, may allow the culture to become more approving, gaining the necessary votes to overturn Proposition 8.
A summary of multiple and recent state and national surveys shows a willingness by the people to provide protections to homosexual couples through domestic partnership or civil union registrations. At the same time, polls do not suggest that people are any more willing to redefine marriage to include any two people.
“As people become more informed of the benefits that the institution of marriage continues to provide to children and society, they are bolstered in their support of man-woman marriage, “ said Ron Prentice, CEO of California Family Council. “Because traditional marriage has been commonplace, until recently people have not been reminded of marriage’s purpose. But redefining marriage wrongly downplays a child’s need for both a mother and father, and creates discrimination against any who disagree with same-sex marriage. As voters have displayed across the country, the American conscience rejects homosexual marriage.”
The LA Times/USC poll also showed a diversity of perspectives between political parties, with 66% of Democrat respondents favoring gay marriage, 71% of Republicans opposing it, and 59% of “non-partisan” voters also in favor.
Posted on November 13, 2009
