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Wayne Besen
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Pro-gay rights attitudes have reached high points this year, according to a new poll, with more Americans expressing tolerance.
Today, 57 percent of the American public believes homosexuality should be sanctioned as an acceptable alternative lifestyle – the highest the Gallup Poll has recorded since 1982. Also indicating higher tolerance, 59 percent of Americans believe homosexual relations should be legal.
The Gallup Poll has recorded a general increase over the past 20 years of those who believe homosexual relations should be legal. The statistic reached an all-time high in May 2003 at 60 percent but then fell to 50 percent in July of that year and has remained level through 2005. A June 2003 Supreme Court decision that struck down a Texas law banning homosexual sodomy appeared to have produced a backlash of public opposition to gay rights, the Gallup report noted. The leveled trend began rising again last year with 56 percent saying homosexual relations should be legal and today, the statistic is nearly at the record 60 percent mark.
Revealing a long-term increase in pro-gay rights attitudes, 46 percent (up from 27 percent in 1996) believe same-sex couples should be recognized by the law as valid with the same rights as traditional marriages. And the percentage of those who say they should not be recognized by the law as valid fell from 68 percent in 1996 to 53 percent today.
On the question of morality, Americans were found to be nearly evenly divided. Since 2001, the percentage of those who say homosexual relations are morally acceptable has increased from 40 percent to 47 percent. And for the first time in the 21st century, less than the majority of Americans say homosexual relations are morally wrong (49 percent). Last year, 51 percent said such relations are morally wrong.
At the same time, the majority of Americans say sex between an unmarried man and woman (59 percent), divorce (65 percent), and having a baby outside or marriage (54 percent) is morally acceptable.
As debates continue over the origin or cause of homosexuality, the Gallup Poll found that an increasing percentage of Americans believe homosexuality is something a person is born with. The poll showed 42 percent express such a view compared to 13 percent in 1977. And the percentage of Americans who believe homosexuality is due to factors such as upbringing and environment fell from 56 percent in 1977 to 35 percent today.
Among those who believe homosexuals are born that way, 78 percent say homosexuality should be considered an acceptable lifestyle. In contrast, among those who believe homosexuality is caused by upbringing or environmental factors, only 30 percent say it should be acceptable.
Gallup's results support other surveys that indicate more open and accepting attitudes among today's young adults. A recent Pew survey found 58 percent of 18-25-year-olds say homosexuality should be accepted.
The Gallup Poll found younger Americans aged 18-34 years old (75 percent) are more likely to express the same view than older Americans aged 55 years and older (45 percent). Women (61 percent) are also more likely than men (53 percent) to say homosexuality should be an acceptable alternative lifestyle, the poll further found.
13 Comments:
I assume these stats are generally for the nation. I'm sure the rates of acceptance are much higher in blue states and much lower in red states. SAT scores pretty much follow this same curve (no surprise there). Ignorance and stupidity=homophobia. It's no surprise that the 'Creationist museum'--a national disgrace and shame--just opened in Kentucky and not NY or CA.
posted by Anonymous, at
5/29/2007 3:15 PM
It is now clearer more than ever just who is right and who is wrong on the question of gays and lesbians. Here in NYC, where I live, the city and population here are what many call "post-gay". The presence of gay people is clearly accepted here. Gay and straight people get along very well, and there is a mutual respect and understanding. I was with a group of straight men the other day, and the topic of gay folk came up. One of the guys turned to me and said, "Hey you're gay, right?" I responded, "Yup" and no one batted an eye.
Contrast that to the red states, where their homophobia and anti-gay hysteria are laughable and antideluvian. Consider Jerry Falwell, their "prophet" who collapsed at a whopping 400-pounds in recent days. So much for ones body being a "temply of the holy spirit".
Finally, contrast the two places. NYC (and other similar locales) are bastions of rational thought, intellectualism, thriving business, vibrant arts and entertainment (not to mention the best food in the country). The red states (where homophobia reigns), are cesspools of superstition, ignorance and a complete and total lack of productivity. Hell, if I lived in a place like that, I'd eat myself to death too.
posted by Chris L., at
5/29/2007 5:50 PM
'...an increasing percentage of Americans believe homosexuality is something a person is born with. The poll showed 42 percent express such a view compared to 13 percent in 1977.' Maybe IQs are dropping.
posted by Anonymous, at
5/30/2007 12:24 AM
Did this news cause the late Reverend Falwell's fatal heart attack?
posted by Cynic, at
5/30/2007 6:17 PM
57% of loosers, like Besen and company
posted by yoor mama, at
5/30/2007 11:33 PM
IQs are only dropping further in the hillbilly belt, asshole; and 'yoor mama' can't even spell LOSERS correctly! You just proved our point: homophobia=dumbfuckery. Red V
posted by Anonymous, at
5/31/2007 1:14 PM
If you want to get technical, "loosers" was spelled incorrectly on purpose to emphasize a drawn out "o". "Yoor mama" is a pen name, whereas anything goes; in fact, misspellings make them unique. Please attune to more important matters than gross name calling (e.g. "asshole") and sterotyping people of geographic cultures. At any rate, spelled right or wrong, a loser is still a loser. I quess "Dumbfuckery" is in the dictionary, and is a use of proper English? Speaking of losers!
posted by yoor mama, at
5/31/2007 1:45 PM
Leaving insults and personal abuse to one side, there is no really convincing reason for believing that people are born gay. The idea that sexual orientation is biologically determined is based on simplistic and untenable assumptions about psychology, and it is unfortunate if these are becoming more widespread.
posted by Anonymous, at
6/02/2007 1:37 AM
