April 23, 2009 - More New Jersey Voters Back Same-Sex Marriage, Qunnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Back Civil Unions 2-1, Gay Adoption Almost 2-1 Word format By a 49 - 43 percent margin, New Jersey voters support a law that would allow same-sex couples to marry, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. And voters support 63 - 30 percent the existing law establishing civil unions for same-sex couples. A proposed same-sex marriage law wins 64 - 29 percent support from Democrats and 50 - 41 percent from independent voters, but Republicans oppose it 67 - 26 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Men oppose it 48 - 44 percent while women back same-sex marriage 53 - 39 percent. Black voters oppose same-sex marriage 54 - 38 percent, while white voters support it 50 - 42 percent. Voters who attend religious services once a week oppose same-sex marriage 65 - 28 percent while voters who attend services less frequently support it 61 - 30 percent. A December 7, 2006, Quinnipiac University poll, conducted as the New Jersey Legislature was debating the civil union law, showed voters opposed same-sex marriage 50 - 44 percent. The existing civil union law wins narrow 51 - 43 percent support from Republicans, while Democrats support it 70 - 23 percent and independent voters support it 66 - 27 percent. "Two years after New Jersey's civil union law went into effect, sentiment for allowing same-sex marriage in the state has shifted from six points against to six points in favor," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Support for the same-sex civil union law has risen dramatically and New Jersey voters do not see gay marriage as a threat to traditional marriages between a man and a woman. Support for allowing gay couples to adopt children is nearly 2 - 1." New Jersey voters reject 66 - 30 percent the argument that same-sex marriage "is a threat to the traditional marriage between a man and a woman." Even Republicans disagree with this claim 51 - 46 percent, as do those who attend religious services weekly, 52 - 43 percent. Same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children, voters say 60 - 32 percent. Republicans oppose such adoptions 47 - 43 percent while people who attend services weekly split 47 - 46 percent. When New Jersey voters are offered three choices: 42 percent say same-sex couples should be allowed to marry; 30 percent say same-sex couples should be allowed to form civil unions, but not marry; 20 percent oppose any legal recognition of same-sex relationships. From April 14 - 20, Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,222 New Jersey registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.1 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and nationally as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201. 27. Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 49% 26% 64% 50% 44% 53% 50% 38% Oppose 43 67 29 41 48 39 42 54 DK/NA 8 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 Philly ATTEND SERVICES Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Weekly Less Support 54% 52% 46% 45% 46% 28% 61% Oppose 35 40 47 47 47 65 30 DK/NA 11 8 8 8 7 7 9 TREND: Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married? Apr 23 Dec 7 Nov 8 2009 2006 2006 Support 49% 44 41 Oppose 43 50 50 DK/NA 8 5 9 28. Do you approve or disapprove of New Jersey's new law establishing civil unions for same-sex couples? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 63% 51% 70% 66% 61% 65% 67% 48% Disapprove 30 43 23 27 32 28 27 42 DK/NA 7 6 7 7 7 7 6 10 Philly ATTEND SERVICES Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Weekly Less Approve 62% 67% 64% 58% 61% 48% 73% Disapprove 29 25 31 36 31 46 20 DK/NA 9 7 5 6 8 6 7 29. Do you think same-sex couples should be allowed legally to marry, should be allowed legally to form civil unions but not marry, or should not be allowed to obtain legal recognition of their relationships? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Marry 42% 21% 53% 43% 37% 46% 43% 26% Civil unions 30 39 21 33 34 26 32 28 No recognition 20 34 15 16 22 19 18 34 DK/NA 8 6 11 7 8 9 7 12 Philly ATTEND SERVICES Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Weekly Less Marry 47% 44% 42% 36% 39% 23% 53% Civil unions 25 30 32 30 30 35 27 No recognition 18 17 22 24 22 33 13 DK/NA 9 9 4 10 9 9 8 30. Do you support or oppose allowing same-sex couples to adopt children? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 60% 43% 68% 62% 52% 66% 61% 52% Oppose 32 47 25 30 38 26 31 40 DK/NA 9 10 7 7 10 8 9 8 Philly ATTEND SERVICES Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Weekly Less Support 65% 63% 60% 53% 57% 47% 68% Oppose 29 29 31 39 33 46 23 DK/NA 6 9 9 8 10 8 9 31. Some people say that same-sex marriage is a threat to traditional marriage between a man and woman. Do you agree or disagree? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Agree 30% 46% 21% 28% 32% 28% 30% 34% Disagree 66 51 72 70 64 67 66 57 DK/NA 5 4 6 2 4 5 3 9 Philly ATTEND SERVICES Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Weekly Less Agree 24% 30% 29% 32% 32% 43% 22% Disagree 69 65 66 64 66 52 74 DK/NA 7 5 4 4 2 5 4 32. Some people say that not allowing same-sex couples to get married is discrimination. Do you agree or disagree? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Agree 50% 30% 64% 51% 46% 54% 50% 47% Disagree 45 66 32 44 51 40 46 49 DK/NA 5 4 4 4 4 6 4 5 Philly ATTEND SERVICES Urban SbUrbn ExUrbn land Shore Weekly Less Agree 51% 54% 44% 50% 48% 35% 59% Disagree 42 41 52 46 48 60 36 DK/NA 7 5 4 4 4 5 4 33. Would you say you attend religious services every week, almost every week, once or twice a month, a few times a year, or never? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Every week 28% 38% 26% 23% 23% 31% 26% 39% Almost every week 9 9 9 9 8 10 8 16 Once or twice a mon 12 10 13 11 11 12 11 19 A few times a year 29 28 30 32 32 26 32 18 Never 19 13 19 22 22 16 20 7 DK/NA 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 -
