Gay Marriage: Support For Same-Sex Weddings Dropping, Pew Poll Proclaims

Gay marriage support appears to be declining, if the results from a new Pew Research Center poll are accurate. Similar polls conducted by Pew and other groups over the past few years had indicated an increase in support for same-sex marriage. The latest results could reveal a “leveling off of opinion” on the topic, according to researchers.

The Pew gay marriage poll found that 49 percent of Americans supported same-sex unions but also noted that opposition to such nuptials had increased to 41 percent. The Pew Research Center poll also stated that support for gay weddings was down five percentage points since the group had posed the same questions to Americans in February.

When asked if homosexuality was a sin, a total of 50 percent of Pew gay marriage poll participants answered yes. When researchers asked the same question in 2013, a total of 45 percent of respondents answered in the affirmative. Those participating in the same-sex marriage survey were also asked if businesses should be legally allowed to refuse to engage in services related to the nuptials based upon their religious convictions. A total of 47 percent of the Pew Research Center poll participants said yes. Four percent of participants were unsure of which side to take on the issue.

The vast majority of Pew poll respondents, 72 percent, said they felt religion was losing its influence on society in America. The loss of religion answer illustrated a five percent increase from a 2010 poll which asked the same question. A total of 56 percent of the participants were not happy about the societal and cultural change and felt it was a “negative development” in the United States.

The Pew Research Center had this to say about the results of the religious questions on the gay marriage poll, ‘Perhaps as a consequence, a growing share of the American public wants religion to play a role in U.S. politics. The share of Americans who say churches and other houses of worship should express their views on social and political issues is up six points since the 2010 midterm elections. The share who say there has been ‘too little” expression of religious faith and prayer from political leaders is up modestly from the same period.”

The poll also found that 37 percent of Republicans or Republican-leaning participants felt churches should endorse political candidates. A total of 28 percent of Democrats or Democrat-leaning respondents felt the same way.

The Pew gay marriage poll was conducted from September 2 to 9 among 2,002 Americans.

What do you think about the gay marriage poll and the feeling that religion is losing influence in America?

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