Support for gay marriage increases in Pa.
Two separate polls show that support for legal same-sex marriage has increased dramatically in Pennsylvania in recent years.
Support for gay marriage increases in Pa.
Thomas Fitzgerald, Inquirer Politics Writer
With the U.S. Supreme Court holding its second straight day of arguments on same-sex marriage cases Wednesday, it is interesting to note that public opinion in Pennsylvania has shifted in favor of legal matrimony for gay and lesbian couples over the past few years.
To be sure, voters support same-sex marriage by relatively narrow margins in the state, and the issue remains controversial. There are no serious moves in the legislature to legalize it, for instance. Pennsylvania, a slow-to-change state, has seen movement on the issue nonetheless, as have other states and the nation as a whole.
Support for gay marriage swung 19 percentage points since May 2006 in the Franklin & Marshall College Poll, according to Terry Madonna, pollster and director of the college’s public affairs institute. Then, 33 percent of Pennsylvania voters agreed that same-sex couples should be allowed to legally wed. In the most recent survey, out in February, 52 percent were in favor.
Public Policy Polling, a Democratic firm that has done independent polling in many states over the past four-plus years, also has found an net 14-point increase in support for gay marriage in Pennsylvania over the past 18 months, though the voters are closely divided.
In November 2011, PPP found that 36 percent of Keystone State voters in favor of same-sex marriage and 52 percent opposed. Earlier this month, the pollsters found the state’s voters almost evenly divided with 45 percent thinking it should be legal, and 47 percent saying it should not. There is a large generation gap: Sixty-two percent of senior citizens oppose legal same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania, to 28 percent in favor. Meanwhile, state voters under the age of 45 years support it, 58 percent to 35 percent.
“The massive generational gap on gay marriage in Pennsylvania reflects what we see most places,” said Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy Polling, which is based in Raleigh, N.C. “Majority support for it is just around the corner,” he said.
Gay marriage? No, thank you! Stand your ground, Pennsylvania!- How about a compromise? We allow same sex marriage and abolish marriage between a man and a woman.
NOW THAT's SOMETHING I COULD LIVE WITH!
— GOPee_er 
This Fitzgerald, a liberal, is trying to get people to foolishly and erroneously think that the state is turning it's perceptions about gay marriage... by merely stating an untruth... NOT— hotstuff- People have such short memories. Didn't we just deal with A*IDS? Another disease will follow. Same s*ex is unhealthy by its nature.— highjacked
- Vomit/hotstuff/highjacked - As a straight, married, fiscal conservative who believes in small government that stays the he** out of peoples' private lives, I whole-heartedly support the rights of consenting adults to love and marry whomever they want. I ask you, what business is it of yours what other consenting adults do? How does it affect you in ANY WAY?— bobby-d
- That's an easy one. With gay marriage, that creates an entirely new group of people entitled to insurance coverage, social security benefits from a spouse, etc. and the payouts or coverage of bills.
You think that the corporate world is going to absorb the additional cost and not pass it along to their customers??? The government is already bemoaning the social security situation as it is. How are they going to cover benefits when a whole new category of "spouse" comes along? They're going to find a way to reduce ours.
THAT'S how it affects the rest of us in "ANY WAY." - Vomit/hotstuff/highjacked - As a straight, married, fiscal conservative who believes in small government that stays the heck out of peoples' private lives, I whole-heartedly support the rights of consenting adults to love and marry whomever they want. I ask you, what business is it of yours what other consenting adults do? How does it affect you in ANY WAY?— bobby-d
- To my fellow Americans - just a friendly reminder that America is governed by The Constitution, not the Bible. We are not a theocracy. We are not The Christian States of America and you cannot legislate the rights of others according to your personal faith.
So stop trying to do so. You're making those of us capable of free thought and empathy really, really irritated. Plus, your constant bleating of "Homosexuality is a sin, it says so in the Bible!" is worthless when you break so many other laws the Bible laid down, and it's making you look more ignorant than usual.— wokmaster - let us put it on the ballot.— jstash
- This is the same polling that advertised Americans desire for Obama Care. That, as has been confirmed on numerous occasions, was bogus information and so, too, is this.
Gays have every right to live as they choose. They do not, however, have the right to impose their lifestyles on the majority nor do they have the right to change centuries-held beliefs. Gays do not seek equality; rather, conquest.— Chantal
You can reach Tom Fitzgerald at 215-854-2718 or tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
Reach Thomas at tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
