American Foundation for Equal Rights

Public Opinion

Resources > Public Opinion

Updated: September 23, 2014

Including the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll conducted in August 2010, the first poll to show a majority of American adults support marriage equality, there exist forty-six polls that show a majority of Americans support same-sex marriage.

  1. CNN/Opinion Research Corporation
    August 6-10 2010, N=1,009 Adults, ± 4.5
    “Do you think gays and lesbians should have a constitutional right to get married and have their marriage recognized by law as valid?”
    52% Yes | 46% No
  2. AP/National Constitution Center
    August 11-16, 2010, N=1,007 Adults, ± 4.5
    “Should the Federal Government give legal recognition to marriages between couples of the same sex, or not?”
    52% Yes | 46% No
  3. Washington Post/ABC News
    March 10-13, 2011, N=1,005 Adults,  ± 3.5
    “On another subject, do you think it should be legal or illegal for gay and lesbian couples to get marred?”
    53% Legal | 44% Illegal
  4. CNN/Opinion Research Corporation
    April 9-10, 2011, N=824 Adults, ± 3.5
    “Do you think marriages between gay and lesbian couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?”
    51% Should | 47% Should Not
  5. Public Religion Research Institute
    May 5-8, 2011, N=1,007 Adults, ±3.0
    “Now I’d like to get your views on some issues that are being discussed in the country today. All in all, do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose allowing gay and lesbian couples to legally marry?”
    51% Favor | 43% Oppose
  6. Gallup
    May 5-8, 2011, N=1,018 Adults, ± 4.0
    “Do you think marriages between same-sex couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?”
    53% Should | 45% Should Not
  7. Washington Post/ABC News
    July 14-17, 2011,  N=1,001 Adults, ± 3.5
    “On another subject, do you think it should be legal or illegal for gay and lesbian couples to get married?
    51% Legal | 45% Illegal
  8. AP/National Constitution Center
    August 18-22, N=1,000 Adults, ± 4.1
    “Should the government give legal recognition to marriages between couples of the same sex, or not?”
    53% Yes | 44% No
  9. CNN/Opinion Research Corporation
    September 9-11, 2011, N=1,038 Adults, ± 3
    “Do you think marriages between gay and lesbian couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?”
    53% Should | 46% Should Not
  10. Washington Post/ABC News
    March 7-10, 2012, N=1,003 Adults, ± 4.0
    “Do you think it should be legal or illegal for gay and lesbian couples to get marries?
    52% Legal | 43% Illegal
  11. Gallup
    May 3-6, 2012, N=1,024 Adults, ± 4.0
    “Do you think marriages between same-sex couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?”
    50% Legal | 48% Illegal
  12. Washington Post/ABC News
    May 17-20, 2012, N=1,004 Adults, ± 3.5
    “On another subject, do you think it should be legal or illegal for gay and lesbian couples to get married?”
    53% Legal | 39% Illegal
  13. CNN/Opinion Research Corporation
    May 29-31, 2012, N=1,009 Adults, ± 3.0
    “Do you think marriages between gay and lesbian couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?”
    54% Should | 42% Should Not
  14. iMediaEthics
    June 4-6, 2012, N=893 Adults, ± 3.3
    “Based on what you’ve read or heard, do you think marriages between couples of the same sex should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?”
    53% Should | 41% Should Not
  15. Washington Post/Kaiser Foundation
    July 25 – August 5, 2012, N = 3,130, ± 3.5
    “Do you think it should be Legal or Illegal for gay and lesbian couples to get married?”
    53% Legal | 42% Illegal
  16. Washington Post/ABC News
    November 7-11, 2012, N=1,023 Adults, ± 3.5
    “Do you support or oppose gay marriage?”
    51% Support | 47% Oppose
  17. CBS News
    November 16-19, 2012, N=1,100, ± 3.0
    “Do you think it should be legal or not legal for same-sex couples to marry?”
    51% Legal | 41% Not Legal
  18. USA Today/Gallup
    November 26-29, N=1,015, ± 4.0
    “Do you think marriages between same-sex couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?”
    53% Should | 46% Should Not
  19. NBC News/Wall Street Journal
    December 6-9, 2012, N=1,000 Adults, ± 3.1
    “Do you favor or oppose allowing gay and lesbian couples to enter into same-sex marriages?”
    51% Favor | 40% Oppose
  20. Center for American Progress/GLAD
    January 23-27, 2013, N=802 Adults, ± 3.5
    “Do you favor or oppose allowing same-sex couples to legally marry?”
    52% Favor | 43% Oppose
  21. Washington Post/ABC News
    March 7-10, 2013, N=1,001 Adults, ± 3.1
    “Do you think it should be legal or illegal for gay and lesbian couples to get married?”
    58% Legal | 36% Illegal
  22. Fox News
    March 17-19, 2013, N=1,002 Adults, ± 3.0
    “Do you think same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry, or not?”
    53% Do | 43% Do Not
  23. CBS News
    March 20-24, 2013, N=1,181 Adults, ± 3.0
    “Do you think it should be legal or illegal for same-sex couples to marry?”
    53% Legal | 39% Not Legal
  24. NBC News/Wall Street Journal
    April 5-8, 2013, N=1,000 Adults, ± 3.1
    “Do you favor or oppose allowing gay and lesbian couples to enter into same sex marriage?”
    53% Favor | 42% Oppose
  25. Pew Research Center
    May 1-5, 2013, N=1,504, ± 2.9
    “Do you strongly favor, favor, oppose or strongly oppose Allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally?”
    51% Favor | 42% Oppose
  26. Washington Post/ABC News
    May 1-4, 2013, N=1,008 Adults, ± 3.5
    “Overall, do you support or oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally?”
    55% Support | 40% Oppose
  27. Gallup
    May 2-7, 2013, N=1,535, ± 3.0
    “Do you think marriages between same-sex couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?” 53% Should Be Valid | 45% Should Not Be Valid
  28. Public Religion Research Institute
    May 15-19, 2013, N=1,000 Adults, ± 3.1
    “I’d like to get your views on some issues that are being discussed in the country today. All in all, do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally?”
    52% Favor | 43% Oppose
  29. Bloomberg National
    June 1-3, 2013, N=1,002 Adults, ± 3.1
    “The Supreme Court may also decide on the constitutionality of a prohibition on gay marriage in California. Do you support or oppose allowing same-sex couples to get married?”
    52% Support | 41% Oppose
  30. New York Times/CBS News
    June 1-4, 2013, N=1,022 Adults
    “Do you think it should be legal or not legal for same-sex couples to marry?”
    51% Legal | 44% Not Legal
  31. Washington Post/ABC News
    June 5-9, 2013, N=1,007 Adults, ± 3.5
    “Overall, do you support or oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally?”
    57% Support | 40% Oppose
  32. CNN/Opinion Research Corporation
    June 11-13, 2013, N=1,014, ± 3.0
    “Do you think marriages between gay and lesbian couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?”
    55% Should | 44% Should Not
  33. USA Today
    June 27-30, N=1,003 Adults, ± 3.6
    “Do you think marriages between same-sex couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?”
    55% Should | 40% Should Not
  34. Gallup
    July 10-14, 2013, N=972 Adults, ± 4.0
    “Suppose that on Election Day you could vote on key issues as well as candidates. Would you vote for or against a federal law that would make same-sex marriages legal in all 50 states?”
    52% Vote For | 43% Vote Against
  35. CBS News
    July 18-22, 2013, N=1,036 Adults, ± 3.0
    “Do you think it should be legal or not legal for same-sex couples to marry?”
    55% Legal | 39% Not Legal
  36. Quinnipiac University
    September 23-29, 2013, N=1,776 Adults, ± 2.3
    “Would you support or oppose a law in your state that would allow same-sex couples to get married?”
    56% Support |36% Oppose
  37. Gallup
    September 20-23, 2013, N=1,000 Adults, ± 3.1
    “Do you support or oppose allowing same-sex couples to get married?”
    55% Support | 36% Oppose
  38. Public Religion Research Institute
    November 12 – December 18, 2013, N=4,509 Adults, ± 1.7
    “All in all, do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally?”
    53% Favor | 41% Oppose
  39. Pew Research Center
    February 12-26, 2014, N=3,338 Adults, ± 2.0
    “Do you strongly favor, favor, oppose or strongly oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally?”
    54% Favor | 41% Oppose
  40. New York Times/CBS News
    February 19-23, 2014, N=1,644 Adults, ± 3.0
    “Do you think it should be legal or not legal for same-sex couples to marry?”
    56% Legal | 39% Not Legal
  41. Washington Post/ABC News
    February 27 – March 2, 2014, N=1,002 Adults, ± 3.5 
    Overall, do you support or oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally?”
    59% Support | 34% Oppose
  42. Bloomberg National Poll
    March 7-10, 2014, N=1,001, ± 3.1
    “Do you support or oppose allowing same-sex couples to get married?”
    55% Support | 36% Oppose
  43. Gallup
    May 9-11, 2014, N=1,028, ± 4.0
    “Do you think marriages between same-sex couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?”
    55% Should Be Valid | 42% Should Not Be Valid
  44. Washington Post/ABC News
    May 29 – June 1, 2014, N=1,002, ± 3.5
    “Overall, do you support or oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally?”
    56% Support | 38% Oppose
  45. McClatchy-Marist
    August 4-7, 2014, N=1035, ± 3.0
    “Do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally?”
    54% Favor | 38% Oppose
  46. New York Times/CBS News
    September 12-15, 2014, N=1009, ± 4.0
    “Do you think it should be legal or not legal for same-sex couples to marry?”
    56% Legal | 37% Not Legal