---
title: "Unlikely to Support a Homosexual Candidate"
description: "Only a third of the public says they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who is homosexual."
date: "2011-06-23"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2011/06/23/unlikely-to-support-a-homosexual-candidate/"
---

# Unlikely to Support a Homosexual Candidate

The public has grown far more accepting of a presidential candidate who is homosexual. Currently, 33% say they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who is homosexual, while 62% say it would not matter. In 2007, 46% said they would be less likely to support a homosexual candidate and 51% said it would not matter. Men are now only slightly less likely than women to express a negative view of a homosexual candidate (36% vs. 31%). In 2007, a majority of men (53%) said they would be less likely to support a candidate who is homosexual, compared with 39% of women. The age gap between the oldest and the youngest also has narrowed.There has been a decline across most groups in the percentages saying they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who is homosexual. Still, white evangelical Protestants (65% less likely), conservative Republicans (58%) and those who attend religious services weekly or more frequently (48%) continue to express the most negative views of a presidential candidate who is homosexual. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2011/06/02/section-2-candidate-traits-and-experience/)