US poll: Opposition to same-sex marriage drops to historic low
A new poll has found that the number of people opposed to same-sex marriage has dropped to a record low.
The New York Times/CBS poll, released this week, asked voters: “Do you think it should be legal or not legal for same-sex couples to marry?”
The long-running poll recorded 56% of people in favour of same-sex marriage across the US, while just 37% now oppose it.
The poll, which has run with the same wording for several years, registered a three-point drop in opposition from a similar poll conducted in July this year, when 40% of people had still opposed same-sex marriage.
The 37% finding also demonstrates a sharp fall in opposition from just two years ago, with a July 2012 poll finding 44% opposition.
The poll comes shortly before the US Supreme Court will meet to discuss pending appeals regarding same-sex marriage bans, on 29 September.
There are currently a number of cases that have reached the court, from Indiana, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Utah, and Virginia.
However, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg – one of the most liberal justices on the court, who has herself performed same-sex weddings – said this week that the Supreme Court will not be “rushed” into making a decision on the issue.
She said there is “no need for us to rush” to take up a marriage case, though “there will be some urgency” if the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Court rules against same-sex marriage, which is considered likely
