Two out of three self-identified Democrats now support gay marriage, suggesting that the Democrat National Committee’s expected decision to adopt gay marriage in its 2012 political platform is fully in line with its members’ views.
Support for gay marriage has grown in general, but especially among Democrats, Pew Research Center said in its report, released Tuesday.
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In 2004, 40 percent of Democrats favored legalizing gay marriage; by July 2012, 65 percent supported the change.
Among political independents, support for gay marriage rose from 37 percent in 2004 to 51 percent now. But among Republicans, support for gay marriage remains tepid, rising from from 17 percent in 2004 to 24 percent now.
The latest Pew survey was conducted June 28-July 9 of nearly 3,000 adults.
The same survey also found growing numbers of people believe homosexuality is inborn and cannot be changed.
In 2003, 30 percent of Americans said homosexuality is “something that people are born with,” and 42 said it “cannot be changed.” By 2012, the number of Americans agreeing with these statements rose to 41 percent and 51 percent, respectively.
In contrast, in 2012, 35 percent believe homosexuality is “just the way some people prefer to live,” 13 percent said it’s “something that develops because of the way people are brought up,” and 36 percent said homosexuality “can be changed.”
