---
title: "Attitudes on Same-Sex Marriage"
description: "In Pew Research Center polling in 2001, Americans opposed same-sex marriage by a margin of 57% to 35%. Since then, support for same-sex marriage has steadily grown. "
date: "2019-05-14"
authors:
  - name: "Travis Mitchell"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/fact-sheet/changing-attitudes-on-gay-marriage/"
categories:
  - "Gender & LGBTQ"
  - "LGBTQ Attitudes & Experiences"
  - "Same-Sex Marriage"
---

# Attitudes on Same-Sex Marriage

## Public opinion on same-sex marriage

In Pew Research Center polling in 2004, Americans opposed same-sex marriage by a margin of 60% to 31%.

Support for same-sex marriage has steadily grown over the past 15 years. And today, support for same-sex marriage remains near its highest point since Pew Research Center began polling on this issue. Based on polling in 2019, a majority of Americans (61%) support same-sex marriage, while 31% oppose it.

### Same-sex marriage overall

*% of U.S. adults who favor/oppose same-sex marriage (2001-2019)*

| Year | Favor | Oppose |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2001 | 35% | 57% |
| 2003 | 32% | 59% |
| 2004 | 31% | 60% |
| 2005 | 36% | 53% |
| 2006 | 35% | 55% |
| 2007 | 37% | 54% |
| 2008 | 39% | 51% |
| 2009 | 37% | 54% |
| 2010 | 42% | 48% |
| 2011 | 46% | 44% |
| 2012 | 48% | 43% |
| 2013 | 50% | 43% |
| 2014 | 52% | 40% |
| 2015 | 55% | 39% |
| 2016 | 55% | 37% |
| 2017 | 62% | 32% |
| 2019 | 61% | 31% |

## Attitudes on same-sex marriage by political party identification

Three-quarters of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents (75%) and fewer than half of Republicans and Republican leaners (44%) favor same-sex marriage.

More independents who lean toward the Democratic Party (81%) favor gay marriage than Democrats (71%). Similarly, Republican leaners are more supportive (56%) than Republicans (37%).

Support for same-sex marriage now stands at 88% among self-described liberal Democrats and Democratic leaners and 64% among conservative and moderate Democrats. Fewer conservative Republicans and Republican leaners (36%) support same-sex marriage than moderate and liberal Republicans (59%).

## Attitudes on same-sex marriage by religious affiliation

Among people who are religiously unaffiliated, a solid majority have supported same-sex marriage since 2004. Today, 79% of religious “nones” say same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.

About two-thirds of white mainline Protestants (66%) now support same-sex marriage, as do a similar share of Catholics (61%).

Support for same-sex marriage among white evangelical Protestants remains lower than it is among other religious groups. However, the share of white evangelical Protestants who support same-sex marriage has grown from 11% in 2004 to 29% today.

About four-in-ten of those who attend religious services at least once a week (39%) favor same-sex marriage, compared with 66% who attend once or twice a month or a few times a year, and three-quarters who say they seldom or never attend.

## Attitudes on same-sex marriage among key demographic groups

Support for same-sex marriage has remained largely stable among both men and women since 2017. Today, 66% of women and 57% of men support same-sex marriage.

Support for same-sex marriage also has remained steady among whites, blacks and Hispanics over the past two years. Today, 62% of whites support same-sex marriage, as do 58% of Hispanics and 51% of blacks.

The increase in the share of adults who favor same-sex marriage over the past 15 years is due in part to generational change. Younger generations express higher levels of support for same-sex marriage.