Section One
Friday,
April 8, 2005
Volume 33,
Issue 14
Sat, Nov 21, 2009
IN THE SGN
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Front Page
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STORIES
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Arts & Entertainment
51 percent in New York State support Gay marriage |
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| 51 percent in New York State support Gay marriage | ||
| Empire State Pride Agenda releases results of New York poll on marriage for same-sex couples
NEW YORK - Support in the state of New York for marriage for same-sex couples increased over the past year according to a poll conducted by Global Strategy Group for Empire State Pride Agenda, the states Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization. The poll found that 51 percent of New Yorkers support marriage for same-sex couples while 42 percent do not. A similar Global Strategy Group poll conducted for the Pride Agenda last year in March 2004 found 47 percent in support of marriage and 46 percent opposed. The poll also showed that New Yorkers overwhelmingly believe that same-sex couples should have the same rights and protections government currently grants opposite-sex couples through marriage. Favorable response rates on questions about specific rights ranged from 72 percent in support of providing child custody rights to 83 percent in favor of providing legal authority to make decisions about a deceased partners burial. Seventy-two percent (72 percent) of New Yorkers also favored civil unions and domestic partner arrangements as avenues to provide legal rights to same-sex couples. Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle said, These findings confirm that New Yorkers are fair people who understand that equality applies to everyone. This is good news for same-sex couples and their families. Van Capelle added, The other good news in this years poll numbers is that the national attack campaign being conducted against our families by the conservative and religious right does not appear to be fooling anyone here in New York. Despite a year of persistent nationwide attack, New Yorkers are not retreating from their support for our families. With same-sex marriage right next door in Massachusetts and hundreds of same-sex couples from towns and cities all across our state going to Canada and coming back married, New Yorkers are seeing firsthand that life does not change when same-sex couples are allowed to marry. The only lives that are changed are those of same-sex couples who got married and now have more of the rights and protections they need to take care of their families. The doomsday scenarios about same-sex marriage being spun by the conservative and religious right are simply not true and New Yorkers are not falling for them. On poll questions about various rights and protections that government gives to those who marry and whether same-sex couples should have access to them, Van Capelle said, The poll clearly shows there is overwhelming support for our families having access to these rights and protections. When 72 percent to 83 percent of New Yorkers give a resounding Yes to our families having child custody rights, medical decision-making authority, burial authority, health, pension and inheritance rights, there is no longer anything left to debate in New York. Family equality is a non-partisan issue and it is time for elected officials in Albany to hear what their constituents are saying and take action so that our families can have the same rights and protections others have. On the overarching question of marriage for same-sex couples, Van Capelle said, New York continues to move in the right direction on marriage. The increase in support this year over last year for the right of same-sex couples to marry tells us that New Yorkers are listening and thinking about this issue and are recognizing more and more that access to marriage is about equality and protections for real families. On amending the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriage, the poll found that New Yorkers remain firmly against an amendment with 54 percent opposed and 40 percent in favor. The poll also showed that candidates running for office in New York State will not suffer at the ballot box if they favor marriage for same-sex couples. Only 37 percent of New Yorkers said they would be less likely to support a candidate favoring same-sex marriage while 59 percent said a candidates support for marriage would make their support more likely or would not be a factor in determining support. Poll results were drawn from 600 random digit dialed telephone interviews in March of registered voters across New York State. The margin of error for the overall sample is +/-4.0 percent. Poll Highlights Marriage: 51 percent support marriage for same-sex couples and 42 percent oppose. Civil Unions and domestic partnerships: 72 percent support allowing same-sex couples to form civil unions or domestic partnerships and 25 percent oppose. Burial decision-making: 83 percent support rights for same-sex couples and 20 percent oppose. Medical decision-making: 82 percent support and 19 percent oppose Health Insurance: 80 percent support and 17 percent oppose Inheritance rights: 78 percent support and 23 percent oppose Pension Benefits: 75 percent support and 22 percent oppose Tax benefits: 75 percent support and 24 percent oppose Child custody rights: 72 percent support and 19 percent oppose Amending the U.S. Constitution to bar marriage between same-sex couples: 40 percent support and 54 percent oppose New York Legislature passing a Defense of Marriage Act to bar marriage between same-sex couples: 46 percent support and 49 percent oppose New York State recognizing marriages between same-sex couples legally conducted in other states: 55 percent support and 41 percent oppose Questions about same-sex marriage decided best by courts or legislature: 35 percent say courts and 38 percent say legislature Should judges have the right to legalize same-sex marriage: 48 percent support and 41 percent oppose. Support for candidate for public office favoring same-sex marriage: 59 percent more likely to support or would make no difference and 37 percent less likely to support. Support for candidate for public office favoring civil unions/domestic partnerships: 70 percent more likely to support of would make no difference and 27 percent less likely to support. Empire State Pride Agenda news release |
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 GENERAL GAYETY Leslie Robinson |
 NOT THINKING STRAIGHT Madelyn Arnold |
