New York State (NY) Poll * May 14, 2009 * Racial Split As New Yorkers Di - Quinnipiac University

Home> Institutes and Centers> Quinnipiac University Polling Institute> New York State (NY)> Release Detail

May 14, 2009 - Racial Split As New Yorkers Divide On Gay Marriage, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Support Civil Unions More Than 2 - 1

Word format New York State voters are split 46 - 46 percent on whether same-sex couples should be allowed to marry, with black voters opposed 57 - 35 percent while white voters tip narrowly in favor of gay marriage 47 - 45 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Voters opposed same-sex marriage 55 - 37 percent in an April 15, 2004, poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.
In this latest survey of more than 2,800 voters, New York State voters support same-sex civil unions 65 - 27 percent with 67 - 24 percent support from white voters and 52 - 39 percent support from black voters.
Jews support same-sex marriage 61 - 34 percent as Catholics oppose it 53 - 39 percent and Protestants say no 55 - 38 percent. Voters who attend religious services at least once a week oppose same-sex marriage 66 - 26 percent, while those who attend services less frequently support same-sex marriage 56 - 36 percent. Women support the measure 49 - 42 percent while men oppose it 51 - 42 percent.
Democrats support same-sex marriage 59 - 34 percent, but Republicans oppose it 68 - 24 percent while independent voters split with 46 percent in favor and 45 percent opposed. Same- sex marriage wins 61 - 33 percent support among voters 18 to 34 years old and gets 48 - 44 percent support among voters 35 to 54 years old, while voters over 55 oppose it 55 - 37 percent.
Gays and lesbians are born that way, 46 percent of New York State voters say, while 29 percent say people choose their sexual orientation and 6 percent say it is decided by upbringing.
"Same-sex marriage? The state splits down the middle, with white voters in favor, black voters opposed and Hispanic voters just about even," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"By religion only, Jewish voters are in favor. Catholics and Protestants, especially those who get to church more often, are opposed," Carroll added.
"The age breakdown suggests that, if same-sex marriage proponents will wait, eventually they'll win. Younger voters are comfortably in favor of gay marriage; 35 to 54-year-olds are narrowly in favor, while only those over 55 are opposed."
"If proponents would settle for civil unions, the numbers indicate they'd win in a walk."
New York State voters reject 63 - 32 percent the argument that same-sex marriage is a threat to traditional marriage between a man and a woman. Voters in every racial and religious group, men and women reject the argument. Only Republicans split 48 - 48 percent.
Same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children, voters say 60 - 31 percent. While black voters narrowly oppose gay adoption, whites, Hispanics, men and women and all religious groups support the measure.
Ending discrimination against gay men and women is as important as the civil rights movement of the 1960s, New York State voters say 55 - 39 percent, with agreement among all racial, religious and age groups. Only Republicans disagree 50 - 44 percent.
But voters say by a narrow 49 - 46 percent margin that denying same sex couples the right to marry is discrimination. White voters split 49 - 47 percent while black voters say 48 - 44 percent that this is not discrimination.
"Is there a parallel between gay rights now and discrimination against black people in the 1960s? Overall, voters think so. Whites feel this way more than black voters," Carroll said.
Ninety-three percent of New York State voters say they are heterosexual, with 2 percent who say they are gay or lesbian and 1 percent who say they are bisexual.
Sixty-three percent of voters say they have friends or close relatives who are gay or lesbian.
From May 5 - 11, Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,828 New York State registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 1.8 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and nationwide as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.
13. Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Support 46% 24% 59% 46% 42% 49% 47% 35% 45% Oppose 46 68 34 45 51 42 45 57 48 DK/NA 8 7 8 9 7 9 8 8 7 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Support 41% 44% 43% 49% 46% Oppose 51 48 48 43 47 DK/NA 8 9 9 9 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Support 61% 48% 37% 40% 54% 54% 40% 56% Oppose 33 44 55 51 39 40 51 36 DK/NA 6 8 9 8 8 6 9 7 KNOW SMONEQ20 CAUSE Q19... ATTEND SERVS WHITE...... Yes No Born Choose Weekly Less Prot Cath Jew Support 52% 35% 64% 28% 26% 56% 38% 39% 61% Oppose 40 57 30 67 66 36 55 53 34 DK/NA 8 8 7 5 8 8 7 8 5
TREND: Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married?
May 14 Apr 15 2009 2004 Support 46 37 Oppose 46 55 DK/NA 8 8
14. Would you support or oppose a law that would allow civil unions for same-sex couples?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Support 65% 57% 69% 68% 62% 67% 67% 52% 59% Oppose 27 35 23 23 30 25 24 39 35 DK/NA 8 8 7 8 8 8 8 9 6 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Support 53% 63% 61% 66% 71% Oppose 36 28 29 28 21 DK/NA 11 9 9 7 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Support 74% 68% 58% 56% 75% 77% 59% 78% Oppose 21 25 32 35 19 18 32 17 DK/NA 5 7 10 9 7 5 9 6 KNOW SMONEQ20 CAUSE Q19... ATTEND SERVS WHITE...... Yes No Born Choose Weekly Less Prot Cath Jew Support 73% 52% 81% 48% 51% 72% 60% 65% 73% Oppose 20 40 13 47 40 21 33 26 22 DK/NA 7 8 6 5 9 7 8 9 6
15. 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 40% 21% 53% 38% 38% 43% 41% 26% 46% Civil unions 29 40 21 35 30 29 31 33 19 No recognition 23 32 19 19 25 21 21 35 27 DK/NA 7 7 6 9 7 8 7 5 9 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Marry 34% 38% 37% 45% 39% Civil unions 30 28 29 25 37 No recognition 31 25 26 23 17 DK/NA 5 9 8 6 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Marry 58% 42% 31% 37% 46% 47% 36% 50% Civil unions 21 30 32 24 33 35 28 32 No recognition 18 21 27 31 16 14 28 14 DK/NA 3 6 10 8 5 4 8 5 KNOW SMONEQ20 CAUSE Q19... ATTEND SERVS WHITE...... Yes No Born Choose Weekly Less Prot Cath Jew Marry 46% 31% 56% 25% 22% 50% 33% 33% 52% Civil unions 32 25 30 27 34 27 29 39 25 No recognition 16 36 8 43 35 17 29 20 20 DK/NA 6 8 6 5 8 7 9 8 3
TREND: 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?
May 14 Apr 07 Jun 12 Dec 12 Jun 19 2009 2009 2008 2007 2007 Marry 40 41 42 40 35 Civil unions 29 33 31 29 35 No recognition 23 19 21 23 22 DK/NA 7 7 6 8 8
16. 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 32% 48% 23% 29% 37% 27% 32% 37% 29% Disagree 63 48 73 65 58 68 64 55 62 DK/NA 5 4 5 6 5 5 4 8 10 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Agree 37% 35% 35% 31% 26% Disagree 58 61 61 64 67 DK/NA 5 4 5 5 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Agree 28% 30% 36% 36% 27% 28% 37% 22% Disagree 70 66 58 58 70 69 57 75 DK/NA 2 4 6 6 3 3 6 3 KNOW SMONEQ20 CAUSE Q19... ATTEND SERVS WHITE...... Yes No Born Choose Weekly Less Prot Cath Jew Agree 26% 42% 17% 48% 47% 24% 38% 38% 21% Disagree 69 54 80 48 47 71 59 57 76 DK/NA 5 5 3 4 7 4 3 5 4
17. 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 49% 29% 63% 47% 45% 53% 49% 44% 51% Disagree 46 67 31 47 50 42 47 48 43 DK/NA 5 4 6 6 5 6 5 8 6 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Agree 43% 47% 46% 52% 48% Disagree 50 48 48 42 47 DK/NA 7 5 5 6 4 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Agree 64% 53% 39% 47% 56% 53% 44% 59% Disagree 32 44 53 47 41 44 50 37 DK/NA 4 4 8 6 3 3 6 4 KNOW SMONEQ20 CAUSE Q19... ATTEND SERVS WHITE...... Yes No Born Choose Weekly Less Prot Cath Jew Agree 55% 40% 65% 34% 30% 59% 44% 41% 62% Disagree 40 55 31 63 63 37 52 55 34 DK/NA 5 5 4 3 6 4 4 4 4
18. Do you support or oppose allowing same-sex couples to adopt children?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Support 60% 48% 69% 60% 57% 63% 62% 43% 65% Oppose 31 44 25 28 34 29 30 46 28 DK/NA 8 8 6 12 9 8 8 10 7 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Support 55% 59% 58% 61% 62% Oppose 36 33 34 30 30 DK/NA 9 8 8 10 7 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Support 75% 63% 51% 52% 69% 71% 54% 73% Oppose 20 28 40 40 24 23 37 20 DK/NA 5 8 9 9 6 6 9 6 KNOW SMONEQ20 CAUSE Q19... ATTEND SERVS WHITE...... Yes No Born Choose Weekly Less Prot Cath Jew Support 69% 46% 78% 40% 45% 68% 52% 57% 73% Oppose 24 44 17 51 45 25 40 34 18 DK/NA 7 10 5 9 10 7 9 9 9
19. 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 46% 38% 53% 47% 40% 51% 51% 26% 44% Brought up 6 9 5 5 7 5 5 7 7 Choose 29 35 26 29 32 27 27 47 28 DK/NA 19 19 17 19 21 17 17 19 20 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Born 38% 45% 44% 44% 55% Brought up 7 5 6 6 5 Choose 30 31 31 32 23 DK/NA 25 19 20 18 17 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Born 50% 46% 46% 38% 54% 59% 41% 56% Brought up 8 5 5 7 5 5 6 5 Choose 32 30 28 34 28 22 33 22 DK/NA 10 19 21 21 14 14 19 17 KNOW SMONEQ20 ATTEND SERVS WHITE...... Yes No Weekly Less Prot Cath Jew Born 53% 35% 38% 51% 44% 51% 55% Brought up 5 6 5 6 6 5 5 Choose 24 39 37 27 34 26 28 DK/NA 17 19 20 17 17 17 12
20. Do you have close friends or close relatives who are gay or lesbian?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk His Yes 63% 57% 63% 66% 59% 65% 63% 64% 60% No 35 42 35 31 38 33 35 35 37 DK/NA 2 1 2 3 3 2 2 1 3 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Yes 61% 65% 64% 60% 63% No 38 33 34 38 34 DK/NA 2 2 2 2 3 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Yes 71% 66% 56% 57% 70% 73% 58% 71% No 28 33 43 42 29 25 40 28 DK/NA 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 CAUSE Q19... ATTEND SERVS WHITE...... Born Choose Weekly Less Prot Cath Jew Yes 72% 52% 59% 65% 57% 65% 62% No 27 47 39 34 42 33 38 DK/NA 1 1 2 1 1 2 1
21. 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 55% 44% 65% 53% 51% 58% 56% 50% 57% Disagree 39 50 29 42 43 35 39 43 34 DK/NA 6 5 6 6 6 6 5 7 8 UpState..... UpState Urban Othr Total NYC Sub Agree 44% 54% 52% 57% 56% Disagree 45 40 41 37 39 DK/NA 12 6 7 6 5 AGE IN YRS....... INCOME............. NoColl Coll 18-34 35-54 55+ <50 50-100 >100K Degree Degree Agree 58% 58% 52% 53% 58% 58% 54% 58% Disagree 37 37 40 39 37 39 39 38 DK/NA 5 4 7 8 5 3 7 5 KNOW SMONEQ20 CAUSE Q19... ATTEND SERVS WHITE...... Yes No Born Choose Weekly Less Prot Cath Jew Agree 61% 46% 70% 42% 44% 61% 49% 54% 61% Disagree 35 46 26 54 49 34 45 41 34 DK/NA 4 9 4 4 7 5 7 5 5
22. 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% 91% 93% 91% 94% 93% 94% 90% Gay/lesbian 2 1 4 2 3 2 3 1 4 Bisexual 1 - 2 1 1 1 1 2 3 DK/NA 4 3 3 4 4 3 3 2 3