Gay Marriage in the USA

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- More than two out of three U.S. citizens still hold the belief that matrimony among same-sex couples ought to be permissible (69%), and almost as many state that gay or lesbian relationships are morally acceptable (64%). Both scores have consistently remained above the 50% benchmark since the early part of the 2010s and surpassed the 60% threshold beginning in 2017.

The recent standstill in the long-term upward trend in both indicators of public backing for the LGBTQ+ community reflects the fact that Democrats’ and independents’ endorsement is stabilizing, while Republicans’ has marginally diminished.

Support for Same-Sex Marriage Nearing All-Time High

The latest 69% of Americans who are in favor of legally sanctioned same-sex marriage, from Gallup’s May 1-23 Values and Beliefs poll, is statistically comparable to the record high of 71% documented in 2022 and 2023. When Gallup initially surveyed the topic of same-sex marriage in 1996, 27% of Americans thought that such unions should be legal, whereas 68% disagreed.

By 2004, 42% were supportive, and in 2011, backing surpassed the majority threshold for the first time. Following slightly lower figures in two subsequent measurements, public backing for legal recognition of same-sex unions has stayed consistently above 50% since the end of 2012. Approximately one year following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges ruling which legalized same-sex marriage, public backing expanded to 61%, and has sustained above that level since.

Embeddable

Currently, eighty-three percent of Democrats, 74% of independents and 46% of Republicans support the legalization of same-sex marriage.

Partisans have demonstrated variance in their levels of endorsement for legally recognized same-sex marriage, with Democrats being more supportive than Republicans and independents’ perspectives more aligned with Democrats’. Majorities of Democrats have supported legalizing same-sex unions since 2004, and a majority of independents have concurred since 2011. Over the past couple of decades, Republicans’ backing for same-sex marriage has averaged about thirty percentage points lower than that of Democrats while also showcasing the same general pattern of heightened support over time. Republican support has reached the majority level twice, with 55% readings in 2021 and 2022, but has fallen below 50% in the last two years.

Embeddable

A Majority Still Views Same-Sex Relations as Morally Acceptable

Gallup has measured Americans’ attitudes on the moral acceptability of gay or lesbian relations on an annual basis since 2001 as part of a collection of personal behaviors and societal practices. The 64% of U.S. adults who currently state that same-sex relations are morally acceptable is unchanged from the previous year but considerably lower than the 71% record high in 2022. While the majority of Americans have deemed same-sex relations to be moral since 2010, fewer, ranging between 38% and 49%, expressed this view prior to that time.

Embeddable

Similar to support for same-sex marriage, Democrats (81%) -- and, to a lesser extent, independents (68%) -- are more prone than Republicans (40%) to say that relationships between homosexuals or lesbians are morally acceptable. Although a majority of Democrats have held the view that same-sex relations are morally acceptable since 2006, no more than half of Republicans have voiced the same opinion throughout Gallup’s trend, except for three measurements -- 51% in 2020 and 2021 and 56% in 2022. The present 41-point gap between Democrats and Republicans matches 2011 as the largest on record.

Embeddable

Key Takeaways

As the proportion of Americans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or something other than heterosexual continues to climb in the U.S., public backing for same-sex marriage and views on the morality of same-sex relationships remain high, although they are not sustained at the peak levels recorded two years ago. For over two decades, Republicans have lagged behind Democrats and independents in these beliefs. Despite the fact that the longer-term trends have revealed expanded backing among all three party factions, the past two years have shown a leveling off, if not a decrease, in that endorsement.

Given that younger Americans are consistently more inclined than older Americans to support legal same-sex marriage and to view same-sex relations as morally acceptable, public support is likely to resume its growth at some point in the upcoming decades, assuming younger adults and emerging generations entering adulthood preserve higher levels of support.

To remain updated with the newest Gallup News insights and updates,follow us on X @Gallup.

Find out more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works.

Review complete question responses and trends (PDF download).

Embeddable

Survey Methodology

Learn More about Access Vital Data for Your Research