Gallup Annual Values and Beliefs Poll
Americans’ support for the moral acceptability of gay and lesbian relations crossed the symbolic 50% threshold in 2010. At the same time, the percentage calling these relations “morally wrong” dropped to 43%, the lowest in Gallup’s decade-long trend. Notably, there has been a 16-point jump in acceptance among Catholics, nearly three times the increase seen among Protestants. Acceptance among Americans with no religious identity has expanded as well.
The same May 3-6 Gallup poll finds the slight majority of Americans still against legalizing same sex marriage; however, at 53%, the extent of that opposition is down slightly this year.
The poll also finds that the majority of Americans in all key demographic groups, including conservatives (53%), Republicans (60%), and weekly churchgoers (57%), say they favor allowing openly gay men and women to serve in the military.