The Fickle Public

Poll shows backlash on gay issues

Americans have become significantly less accepting of homosexuality since a Supreme Court decision that was hailed as clearing the way for new gay civil rights, a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll has found. After several years of growing tolerance, the survey shows a return to a level of more traditional attitudes last seen in the mid-1990s.

Asked whether same-sex relations between consenting adults should be legal, 48% said yes; 46% said no. Before this month, support hadn't been that low since 1996. (Related item: See poll numbers)

In early May, support for legal relations reached a high of 60%-35%.

Freedom for me, but not for thee, eh? I'll never quite understand the reasoning behind the general opposition to homosexuals. Perhaps it's because I'm young and didn't grow up in a time when such people and activities were considered beyond the pale. I simply cannot grasp why some people think heterosexuals have the right to marry and homosexuals don't. None of the arguements put forth hold traction with me.

I don't believe anyone should be seeking government approval for their marriage, partially because I don't believe there should be any government-backed incentive to marry. Mostly, though, I see marriage as one of the most sacred contracts two people can engage in. As such, the state has no right nor any need to interfere in it.

UPDATE(7/31/2003 6:40am)
President Bush and the Vatican are morons.

Pope John Paul II has backed a Vatican statement condemning same-sex unions as "deviant" and a threat to society.

The Vatican, fearful that the legalization of gay marriage could spread, has called on Roman Catholic politicians around the world to fight such trends.

[...]

It is the second time this year the Vatican has formally issued the instruction, and mirrors similar comments made by U.S. President George W. Bush Wednesday.

The president said: "I believe marriage is between a man and a woman, and I think we ought to codify that one way or another."

UPDATE(9/5/2003 6:55am)
Things are worse in Texas:

Texans, by a four-to-one margin, believe that homosexual behavior is morally wrong and oppose efforts to legalize gay and lesbian marriages, according to a Scripps Howard Texas Poll.

The poll, released Thursday, also showed strong opposition to the U.S. Supreme Court's watershed decision striking down anti-sodomy laws in Texas and 12 other states. A majority of 56 percent opposed the June 26 decision, compared with 32 percent in favor.

Conservatives and pro-family groups said the data bolsters their long-standing contention that Texans strongly oppose homosexual behavior. But leaders of gay and lesbian groups said the survey suggests that Texas is out of step with growing nationwide tolerance of homosexual rights.

[...]

The survey, based on telephone interviews with 1,000 adults between Aug. 7-21, showed that 70 percent of those polled believe homosexual behavior is morally wrong, compared with 17 percent who feel that it isn't morally improper. The poll was conducted on behalf of the Star-Telegram and other media organizations.

The finding was virtually identical to a 1999 poll which showed a breakdown of 68 percent to 18 percent on the morality issue. Seventy-three percent of men believe that homosexuality is wrong, the survey found, compared with 66 percent of women.

The merits of policy decisions should not be based on the number of people who support them. The Unpopular is not necessarily the Wrong.

"This just confirms what we've said all along," said Kelly Shackelford, president of the Free Market Foundation of Plano. "The people of Texas believe marriage is between a man and a woman."

"Free market" my ass. You disgrace the name, Kelly.

Posted by Drizzten at July 29, 2003 08:04 PM