One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Poll: Californians More Likely to Favor Gay Marriage than Oppose
At the Day of Decision Protest in May 2009 (see more photos here) | Photo by Tom Andrews/LAist
For the first time, after asking the question in surveys for over 10 years, the Public Policy Institute of California has found that Californians are more likely to favor gay marriage than oppose it. "Today, a record high 49 percent of likely voters favor same-sex marriage and 45 percent oppose it," the report stated. "Support among all adults had never surpassed 45 percent since January 2000."
64% of Democrats, 55% of Independents and 28% of Republicans (67% opposing) were in favor of gay marriage. Since last May, when the questions was last asked, the favorability is up 4%, 8%, 6%, respectively.
Geographically speaking, the Los Angeles area is still split, with 46% of residents in favor, 48% opposing. A broader look, Southern California is 47% in favor with 49% opposing. There are no surprises in the San Francisco Bay Area (64% favor, 30% oppose) and in the Central Valley (51% oppose, 42% favor).
Also, 75% of Californians feel gays and lesbians should be allowed to openly serve in the military. That's up 7 points from February 2000 when the question was first asked. As for party affiliation, "Democrats (85%) and independents (79%) are more likely to say this than Republicans (57%)," noted the report. A national CNN poll found that 69% of Americans share this sentiment.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
