National (US) Poll * April 30, 2009 * Gays In The Military Should Be - Quinnipiac University

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April 30, 2009 - Gays In The Military Should Be Allowed To Come Out, U.S. Voters Tell Quinnipiac University National Poll; Key Is Belief That Being Gay Is By Choice Or By Birth

Word format The ban on openly gay men and women in the military should be repealed, American voters say 56 - 37 percent, including 50 - 43 percent among voters with family in the military, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. American voters who think being gay is an individual's choice, 36 percent, are generally less supportive of gay rights than those who think people are born gay, 42 percent.
White Catholics say 64 - 29 percent that gays in the military should be allowed to come out, while white evangelical Christians support "don't ask; don't tell" 53 - 40 percent. Voters reject 58 - 35 percent, including 56 - 39 percent in military households, the argument that allowing openly gay men and women to serve would be divisive, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University survey of 2,041 registered voters nationwide finds.
American voters reject 50 - 44 percent the argument that ending discrimination against homosexuals is as necessary today as ending discrimination against blacks was in the 1960s. Black voters say 45 - 44 percent it is as important, while whites say 51 - 43 percent it is not.
Voters support 50 - 44 percent the federal law allowing states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, but say 54 - 39 percent that the federal law denying federal spousal benefits to same-sex partners should be repealed.
Society is paying too much attention to the needs of gays and lesbians, 49 percent of voters say, while 21 percent say there's too little attention and 22 percent say it's "about right."
"Americans have nuanced and at times inconsistent views about gay rights issues. For instance, 60 percent think preventing gays from serving in the military is discrimination, but 51 percent don't think preventing gays from marrying is discrimination," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
American voters oppose 55 - 38 percent a law in their state allowing same-sex couples to marry, but support 57 - 38 percent allowing same-sex couples to form civil unions.
Voters also support 53 - 40 percent allowing same-sex couples to adopt children.
"In general, Americans tend to be more supportive when it comes to narrow equity questions like serving in the military or collecting federal benefits," Brown added. "But they are less accepting of more philosophical issues such as equating gay rights with civil rights for blacks and the belief that people are born gay rather than it being a choice. For example, 65 percent of those who think people are born gay support legalized gay marriage compared to 15 percent among those who say being gay is a personal choice."
A total of 4 percent of respondents say they are gay or bisexual, while 63 percent say they have close friends or family members who are gay. Among the 63 percent who have a gay friend or relative, support for homosexual rights is much higher. This group splits evenly on gay marriage, while the other 34 percent oppose it 70 - 25 percent.
There is a gender gap on most questions, with women six to 15 points more supportive of gay rights than men. Jews are the religious group most likely to support gay rights; evangelical Christians the least likely and white Catholics in the middle.
For example, Catholics support same-sex civil unions 68 - 27 percent while evangelical Christians oppose these unions 61 - 34 percent. Catholics support gay adoption 61 - 33 percent, while evangelical Christians oppose gay adoption 64 - 30 percent.
"Lifting the ban on gays in the military has public support as does repealing part - but not all - of the key sections of the federal Defense of Marriage Act," said Brown. Americans support the part of that federal law allowing states to refuse to recognize gay marriages performed in other states. But they want to repeal another part of the law that bans the federal government from recognizing gay marriage for any purpose, the most important of which would be eligibility for federal financial benefits such as spousal Social Security benefits."
From April 21 - 27, Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,041 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 2.2 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.
18. Would you support or oppose a law in your state that would allow same-sex couples to get married?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Support 38% 17% 56% 40% 35% 41% 38% 27% 52% Oppose 55 80 37 53 59 52 56 58 45 DK/NA 7 2 8 6 6 7 6 14 3 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Support 53% 39% 30% 37% 42% 50% 33% 50% Oppose 39 56 63 57 54 45 60 45 DK/NA 7 6 6 7 4 5 7 5 WHITE............. KNOW SMONEQ31 CAUSE Q30.... BrnAgn Yes No Born Choose Evngl Prot Cath Jew Support 47% 25% 65% 15% 17% 27% 43% 81% Oppose 47 70 30 81 78 68 51 16 DK/NA 6 5 5 4 4 5 6 2
19. Would you support or oppose a law in your state that would allow civil unions for same-sex couples?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Support 57% 45% 62% 63% 57% 58% 59% 38% 59% Oppose 38 52 32 33 39 36 36 50 40 DK/NA 5 3 6 4 4 6 5 12 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Support 63% 60% 53% 52% 66% 72% 51% 72% Oppose 33 36 41 42 32 26 43 25 DK/NA 4 4 6 6 2 3 6 3 WHITE............. KNOW SMONEQ31 CAUSE Q30.... BrnAgn Yes No Born Choose Evngl Prot Cath Jew Support 66% 43% 82% 32% 34% 50% 68% 93% Oppose 30 52 15 64 61 46 27 7 DK/NA 4 4 3 4 5 5 5 -
20. 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 His Marry 33% 13% 48% 36% 30% 36% 33% 23% 46% Civil unions 26 34 19 28 27 26 28 21 19 No recognition 34 50 25 30 37 31 33 42 30 DK/NA 6 4 8 5 5 7 6 14 6 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Marry 49% 34% 23% 31% 35% 44% 29% 43% Civil unions 19 28 30 24 32 28 25 30 No recognition 27 33 38 37 30 23 39 22 DK/NA 5 5 8 7 3 4 7 5 WHITE............. KNOW SMONEQ31 CAUSE Q30.... BrnAgn Yes No Born Choose Evngl Prot Cath Jew Marry 42% 20% 57% 13% 14% 22% 34% 69% Civil unions 28 24 28 22 22 28 37 22 No recognition 26 50 11 60 59 44 22 6 DK/NA 5 6 4 6 5 5 6 2
TREND: Which would you prefer? 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?
Apr 30 Jul 17 2009 2008 Marry 33 32 Civil unions 26 33 No recognition 34 29 DK/NA 6 6
21. Under current federal law states can refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. Do you think this law should remain in existence or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 50% 69% 31% 53% 55% 45% 51% 46% 39% No 44 27 63 41 39 49 44 43 59 DK/NA 6 4 7 6 6 6 6 11 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Yes 44% 52% 51% 48% 50% 48% 49% 50% No 52 44 41 45 47 47 44 45 DK/NA 4 5 8 6 3 5 6 5 WHITE............. KNOW SMONEQ31 CAUSE Q30.... BrnAgn Yes No Born Choose Evngl Prot Cath Jew Yes 45% 58% 32% 68% 67% 61% 49% 15% No 50 36 64 28 29 35 46 79 DK/NA 5 5 5 4 3 4 6 6
22. Under current federal law spouses in same-sex marriages are denied eligibility for federal benefits. Do you think this law should remain in existence or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 39% 62% 25% 37% 45% 34% 40% 30% 37% No 54 33 68 57 49 58 53 60 62 DK/NA 7 4 7 6 6 8 7 11 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Yes 29% 39% 45% 40% 37% 35% 42% 33% No 66 55 46 54 59 61 50 62 DK/NA 5 5 9 7 4 4 7 5 WHITE............. KNOW SMONEQ31 CAUSE Q30.... BrnAgn Yes No Born Choose Evngl Prot Cath Jew Yes 33% 51% 17% 62% 62% 51% 38% 8% No 62 43 77 33 31 40 57 90 DK/NA 5 6 6 5 7 8 5 1
23. 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 His Agree 39% 58% 26% 37% 43% 35% 39% 45% 28% Disagree 58 40 71 60 55 61 59 49 70 DK/NA 3 2 4 3 2 4 3 6 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Agree 34% 38% 42% 40% 38% 31% 43% 30% Disagree 63 60 54 57 60 67 55 66 DK/NA 3 2 4 4 1 2 3 4 WHITE............. KNOW SMONEQ31 CAUSE Q30.... BrnAgn Yes No Born Choose Evngl Prot Cath Jew Agree 32% 51% 19% 60% 57% 47% 34% 8% Disagree 67 45 78 38 41 50 64 86 DK/NA 1 4 2 2 2 2 2 6
24. 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 His Agree 45% 24% 63% 47% 42% 48% 44% 45% 57% Disagree 51 74 33 50 55 48 52 48 41 DK/NA 3 2 4 3 3 4 3 7 1 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Agree 60% 45% 38% 45% 50% 52% 43% 51% Disagree 38 52 58 51 49 47 53 46 DK/NA 2 3 4 4 1 1 4 3 WHITE............. KNOW SMONEQ31 CAUSE Q30.... BrnAgn Yes No Born Choose Evngl Prot Cath Jew Agree 53% 33% 69% 25% 27% 34% 45% 77% Disagree 44 64 29 73 70 63 51 21 DK/NA 3 2 2 2 2 2 3 2
25. Who do you think should decide whether same-sex couples should be allowed to get married - your state legislature or your state courts?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Legislature 43% 53% 38% 43% 48% 39% 45% 39% 29% Courts 25 19 29 25 24 25 23 28 36 BOTH(VOL) 5 4 6 6 4 5 4 6 14 NEITHER(VOL) 16 14 14 15 15 16 15 19 10 DK/NA 12 10 13 12 9 14 12 7 12 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Legislature 49% 45% 38% 38% 51% 55% 39% 52% Courts 25 25 23 26 27 20 25 24 BOTH(VOL) 6 4 5 6 4 5 5 4 NEITHER(VOL) 7 16 20 16 12 14 17 12 DK/NA 12 10 13 13 6 7 13 8 WHITE............. KNOW SMONEQ31 CAUSE Q30.... BrnAgn Yes No Born Choose Evngl Prot Cath Jew Legislature 45% 41% 45% 41% 44% 47% 49% 30% Courts 24 26 28 23 19 18 28 27 BOTH(VOL) 5 5 7 4 3 3 2 14 NEITHER(VOL) 16 15 12 19 19 17 12 9 DK/NA 10 13 9 13 16 13 9 21
26. Do you support or oppose allowing same-sex couples to adopt children?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Support 53% 36% 64% 57% 50% 56% 53% 48% 62% Oppose 40 60 29 36 43 37 40 43 34 DK/NA 6 4 7 7 7 6 7 9 4 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Support 63% 58% 44% 50% 60% 65% 48% 65% Oppose 32 36 48 45 35 30 45 28 DK/NA 5 5 8 5 5 5 6 6 WHITE............. KNOW SMONEQ31 CAUSE Q30.... BrnAgn Yes No Born Choose Evngl Prot Cath Jew Support 63% 38% 77% 33% 30% 44% 61% 83% Oppose 32 56 18 64 64 49 33 11 DK/NA 5 6 5 4 6 6 6 6
27. Federal law currently prohibits openly gay men and women from serving in the military. Do you think this law should be repealed or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 56% 42% 67% 57% 50% 61% 56% 48% 73% No 37 52 28 35 42 33 36 46 25 DK/NA 7 6 6 7 8 6 8 5 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Yes 61% 56% 52% 53% 61% 63% 52% 64% No 34 38 39 40 34 32 40 30 DK/NA 4 6 9 7 5 5 7 6 WHITE............. KNOW SMONEQ31 CAUSE Q30.... BrnAgn Mltry Yes No Born Choose Evngl Prot Cath Jew HsHld Yes 61% 47% 77% 36% 40% 46% 64% 83% 50% No 33 46 18 58 53 46 29 10 43 DK/NA 6 6 5 6 7 8 7 7 7
28. Some people say that not allowing openly gay men and women to serve in the military is discrimination. Do you agree or disagree?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Agree 60% 42% 71% 65% 52% 67% 59% 61% 65% Disagree 36 55 26 31 44 29 36 35 32 DK/NA 4 4 3 4 4 5 4 4 3 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Agree 71% 58% 55% 61% 63% 63% 57% 66% Disagree 27 38 38 34 35 34 38 31 DK/NA 2 3 6 5 2 3 5 3 WHITE............. KNOW SMONEQ31 CAUSE Q30.... BrnAgn Mltry Yes No Born Choose Evngl Prot Cath Jew HsHld Agree 67% 50% 82% 41% 44% 50% 67% 88% 52% Disagree 30 47 16 55 52 45 30 11 44 DK/NA 3 4 2 5 4 5 4 1 4
29. Some people say that allowing openly gay men and women to serve in the military would be divisive for the troops and hurt their ability to fight effectively. Do you agree or disagree?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Agree 35% 51% 24% 33% 40% 30% 35% 39% 19% Disagree 58 43 70 61 53 63 58 54 78 DK/NA 7 6 6 7 7 7 7 6 4 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Agree 29% 36% 35% 33% 35% 34% 37% 30% Disagree 65 58 56 59 61 60 56 63 DK/NA 6 6 9 8 4 6 7 7 WHITE............. KNOW SMONEQ31 CAUSE Q30.... BrnAgn Mltry Yes No Born Choose Evngl Prot Cath Jew HsHld Agree 29% 46% 18% 49% 51% 43% 30% 6% 39% Disagree 65 48 76 45 43 51 63 79 56 DK/NA 6 6 5 6 5 6 7 15 4
30. In your opinion, what causes someone to be gay or lesbian - Do you believe that people are born gay or lesbian, or that people become gay or lesbian because of the way they are brought up, or is it just the way that some people choose to live?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Born 42% 26% 52% 46% 37% 46% 43% 29% 53% Brought up 6 7 5 6 8 5 5 9 9 Choose 36 52 28 31 37 35 35 47 29 DK/NA 16 16 14 17 19 14 17 15 9 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Born 43% 42% 41% 38% 44% 54% 38% 51% Brought up 6 6 6 8 3 4 7 4 Choose 42 34 34 38 36 27 40 27 DK/NA 9 18 18 15 16 15 16 18 WHITE............. KNOW SMONEQ31 BrnAgn Yes No Evngl Prot Cath Jew Born 48% 33% 23% 35% 53% 82% Brought up 5 8 8 6 4 - Choose 31 46 53 42 24 9 DK/NA 16 13 16 17 18 9
31. Do you have close friends or close relatives who are gay or lesbian?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 63% 59% 64% 65% 63% 63% 61% 71% 76% No 34 38 34 33 35 34 37 25 21 DK/NA 3 3 2 3 3 3 2 3 3 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Yes 69% 67% 55% 61% 64% 74% 61% 68% No 29 31 41 36 34 24 37 30 DK/NA 2 2 3 3 2 2 3 2 WHITE............. CAUSE Q30.... BrnAgn Born Choose Evngl Prot Cath Jew Yes 72% 54% 52% 56% 65% 80% No 27 44 45 42 34 20 DK/NA 1 1 3 3 1 1
32. In general, do you think government is paying too much, too little, or about the right amount of attention to the needs of gays and lesbians?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Too much 41% 60% 25% 40% 43% 39% 42% 35% 30% Too little 22 9 35 22 19 25 20 26 41 About right 26 21 29 28 27 25 25 28 22 DK/NA 11 9 11 11 11 12 12 11 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Too much 28% 42% 48% 42% 39% 39% 44% 35% Too little 37 20 17 24 25 21 22 22 About right 27 29 21 22 29 31 22 34 DK/NA 8 9 15 12 7 9 12 9 WHITE............. KNOW SMONEQ31 CAUSE Q30.... BrnAgn Yes No Born Choose Evngl Prot Cath Jew Too much 36% 50% 27% 55% 61% 50% 40% 19% Too little 28 13 35 12 11 14 20 34 About right 27 24 29 21 17 23 31 22 DK/NA 9 13 9 11 10 13 8 25
33. In general, do you think society is paying too much, too little, or about the right amount of attention to the needs of gays and lesbians?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Too much 49% 67% 32% 50% 50% 48% 51% 43% 37% Too little 21 7 32 22 19 23 20 24 30 About right 22 18 27 22 24 20 22 23 27 DK/NA 8 8 8 6 7 9 8 10 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Too much 44% 49% 51% 47% 51% 47% 51% 44% Too little 29 19 19 23 22 23 21 21 About right 22 26 18 20 25 25 20 28 DK/NA 4 5 12 10 3 5 9 6 WHITE............. KNOW SMONEQ31 CAUSE Q30.... BrnAgn Yes No Born Choose Evngl Prot Cath Jew Too much 44% 58% 35% 63% 66% 57% 48% 24% Too little 27 12 32 12 11 15 20 39 About right 24 21 28 17 15 20 26 31 DK/NA 6 10 5 8 7 8 6 6
34. Some people say that ending discrimination against gay men and women is as necessary today as ending discrimination against blacks was in the 1960s. Do you agree or disagree?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Agree 44% 26% 59% 44% 40% 48% 43% 45% 63% Disagree 50 67 35 52 55 45 51 44 36 DK/NA 6 6 6 4 5 7 6 11 2 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Agree 52% 43% 41% 46% 46% 48% 44% 45% Disagree 45 51 50 47 52 48 49 50 DK/NA 3 5 8 7 2 4 7 5 WHITE............. KNOW SMONEQ31 CAUSE Q30.... BrnAgn Yes No Born Choose Evngl Prot Cath Jew Agree 52% 32% 64% 27% 26% 34% 50% 65% Disagree 44 61 33 67 68 60 45 30 DK/NA 4 7 4 6 5 6 5 4
35. Do you think of yourself as straight or heterosexual, gay or lesbian, or bisexual?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Straight/hetero 93% 96% 92% 93% 93% 93% 94% 93% 78% Gay or lesbian 2 1 3 1 3 1 2 - 4 Bisexual 2 1 1 3 1 3 1 2 11 DK/NA 4 2 3 3 4 3 3 5 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Straight/hetero 90% 94% 94% 91% 96% 93% 93% 94% Gay or lesbian 1 2 1 1 2 4 1 3 Bisexual 5 1 1 3 1 1 2 1 DK/NA 3 2 4 4 1 2 4 2 WHITE............. KNOW SMONEQ31 CAUSE Q30.... BrnAgn Yes No Born Choose Evngl Prot Cath Jew Straight/hetero 93% 98% 92% 96% 95% 94% 97% 93% Gay or lesbian 3 - 4 - 1 1 2 5 Bisexual 3 - 2 2 1 1 1 - DK/NA 2 2 2 2 3 3 1 2
36. Are you or is anyone in your household currently in military service, a military veteran, or a reservist? (IF YES ASK:) Would that be you, or another member of your household?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes, Self 13% 18% 10% 11% 24% 2% 13% 13% 7% Yes, Hshold membr 15 17 11 17 8 21 16 8 13 Yes, Both 1 1 1 1 2 - 1 3 1 No 71 64 78 69 64 76 69 76 80 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 - 1 - - AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Yes, Self 6% 11% 20% 11% 14% 15% 13% 12% Yes, Hshold membr 11 15 17 17 13 12 16 13 Yes, Both 1 1 1 1 1 - 1 1 No 81 73 62 70 72 71 69 74 DK/NA 2 - 1 - - 1 1 - WHITE............. KNOW SMONEQ31 CAUSE Q30.... BrnAgn Yes No Born Choose Evngl Prot Cath Jew Yes, Self 12% 14% 12% 13% 11% 12% 16% 15% Yes, Hshold membr 16 13 15 13 18 18 13 13 Yes, Both 1 1 - 1 1 2 1 - No 70 71 72 72 68 67 70 71 DK/NA - 1 1 1 1 - - -