A new poll released today from Ipsos on behalf of Reuters shows a majority support for marriage equality in developed nations:
"73% of those in 16 countries support some form of legal recognition
of same-sex couples – 52% support full marriage equality and 21%
support some form of legal recognition but not marriage. The survey…finds
that 14% are opposed to same-sex couples having any kind of legal
recognition while 13% are unsure.
The survey was conducted with a sample of 12,484 adults aged 18-64 in
the following 16 countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada,
France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland,
South Korea, Spain, Sweden and United States."
Reuters notes the poll's findings as pertaining to adoption:
"Nearly 60 percent of people
polled thought gay couples should have the same rights as heterosexuals
to adopt children and 64 percent thought same-sex couples were just as
likely to raise children successfully."
Views on same-sex marriage appear to be closely linked to knowing someone who identifies as LGBT:
"Opposition to legal recognition
or marriage of gays was highest in Hungary, South Korea, Poland and
Japan, where 37 percent of people said they were unsure about how they
felt.
"'What is common to Hungary, South Korea
and Poland is that by and large they are the countries that have the
lowest percentage of people who report having a relative, a colleague,
or a friend who is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender,' said [Nicolas] Boyon [an Ipsos senior vice president].
Three out of 10 people
questioned said their attitude towards gay marriage had changed in the
past five years, although they did not say how. Support for same-sex
unions was highest among adults who had a relative, friend or colleague
who is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (LGBT)."
The poll also found a correlation between support for same-sex marriage and involvement in social media and religion. Those with a penchant for social media were more likely to be in favor of marriage equality when compared with those who were not as active online. Conversely, those who identified with a religion were far less likely to support legal equality for gay couples.
Interestingly, in Argentina, where gay marriage is legal, only 48 percent supported same-sex marriage.
In
the United States, the poll found 42 percent in support of same-sex
marriage and an additional 23 percent favoring another form of legal
recognition for same-sex couples. These numbers are somewhat lower than the most recent Gallup poll which put support for marriage equality at 53 percent nationwide.
