NEW YORK (AP) — A new national poll finds that an increasing majority of Americans favors allowing same-sex couples to obtain most of the same rights as married straight couples. But only 39 percent support legalizing same-sex marriage.
The Pew Research Center says support for civil unions has risen to 57 percent, up from 54 percent a year ago and up from 45 percent in 2003.
But the center says views on legalizing same-sex marriage remain almost unchanged from last year, with 53 percent opposed and 39 percent in favor.
The survey says supporters of same-sex marriage are divided over the best way to pursue legalization. Forty-five percent of them favor pushing hard to legalize it as soon as possible, while 42 percent say pushing too hard for swift legalization might trigger a backlash.
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On the Net:
Pew survey: http://people-press.org/report/553/same-sex-marriage
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
