--- title: "Ahead of same-sex marriage decisions, what you need to know" description: "The Supreme Court is expected to rule imminently on two laws seeking to block same-sex marriage -- the federal Defense of Marriage Act and California's Proposition 8. Here's a summary of major findings related to the issue." date: "2013-06-21" authors: - name: "Drew DeSilver" job_title: "Senior Writer/Editor" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/drew-desilver/" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/06/21/ahead-of-same-sex-marriage-decisions-what-you-need-to-know/" categories: - "LGBTQ Acceptance" - "Same-Sex Marriage" - "Same-Sex Marriage" - "Supreme Court" --- # Ahead of same-sex marriage decisions, what you need to know The Supreme Court is expected to rule imminently on two laws seeking to block same-sex marriage -- the federal [Defense of Marriage Act](http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/windsor-v-united-states-2/) and California's [Proposition 8.](http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/hollingsworth-v-perry/?wpmp_switcher=desktop) Here's a summary of major findings related to homosexuality, marriage and society, drawn mostly from the Pew Research Center's multi-part series of reports, ["LGBT in Changing Times"](https://www.pewresearch.org/packages/lgbt-in-changing-times/): ## Public opinion on same-sex marriage [] ### Email Sign Up Receive our weekly newsletter featuring new analysis on politics, social trends, religion, the media and more. [Sign Up Now](http://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=001kdIqtH8ZGZZ8aE1hwWuina_bf9_S47LEtQr4Jp2gUAffvqpEeMtK9xqpSwr4iinRIjlwE-WFc_8VbeoO-C8C6n9hkrQWBiF3uBHfYCf5toE5E7g1FZc8Dg%3D%3D) [![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/06/6-6-13-1.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/06/06/in-gay-marriage-debate-both-supporters-and-opponents-see-legal-recognition-as-inevitable/) 51% -- Percentage of American public that [supports](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/06/06/section-1-same-sex-marriage-civil-unions-and-inevitability/) same-sex marriage. It is legal in [12 states and Washington, D.C.](http://features.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/religion/same-sex-marriage-state-by-state/) 14% -- Share of American public who say they've [changed their minds](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/03/20/growing-support-for-gay-marriage-changed-minds-and-changing-demographics/) and now favor same-sex marriage. 72% -- Percentage of Americans who say legal recognition of same-sex marriage is [inevitable](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/06/06/in-gay-marriage-debate-both-supporters-and-opponents-see-legal-recognition-as-inevitable/), regardless of whether they support or oppose it. 5-to-1 -- Ratio of news stories this spring containing [more statements supporting same-sex marriage](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/analysis_report/news_coverage_conveys_strong_momentum) to stories with more statements opposing it. ## Public acceptance of homosexuality ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/06/SDT-2013-06-LGBT-2-01.png) +11 -- Percentage-point increase in the share of Americans who say society should [accept homosexuality](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/06/06/section-3-religious-belief-and-views-of-homosexuality/) (from 49% in 2004 to 60% earlier this year). 88% -- Percentage saying so in Spain (the most accepting [among 39 countries surveyed](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2013/06/04/the-global-divide-on-homosexuality/)) 1% -- Percentage saying so in Nigeria (the least accepting country surveyed). 92% -- Percentage of LGBT adults in America who say society has become [more accepting](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2013/06/13/a-survey-of-lgbt-americans/3/#chapter-2-social-acceptance) of them over the past 10 years. 92% -- Percentage of LGBT adults who say society will [be even more accepting](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2013/06/13/a-survey-of-lgbt-americans/) 10 years from now. ## LGBT identity ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/06/SDT-2013-06-LGBT-0-04.png) 10 -- Median age at which gay men in America said they [first thought](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2013/06/13/a-survey-of-lgbt-americans/4/#when-realized) they might be gay. 15 -- Median age at which they knew for sure. 13 -- Median age at which American lesbians said they first thought they might be lesbian. 18 -- Median age at which they knew for sure. ## LGBT lives 39% -- Percentage of U.S. lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adults who say they've been [rejected by a friend or family member](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2013/06/13/a-survey-of-lgbt-americans/#lgbt-rejection) at some point in their lives because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. 6% -- Percentage who say this has happened in the past year. 48% -- Percentage of LGBT adults who [don't identify with any particular religion](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/06/20/for-religious-lgbt-adults-more-commitment-sometimes-brings-more-conflict/) (versus 20% of the U.S. general public). 56% -- Percentage of LGBT adults who [identify as Democrats](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2013/06/13/a-survey-of-lgbt-americans/8/#chapter-7-partisanship-policy-views-values) (versus 8% as Republicans) ## Desire for marriage ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/06/SDT-2013-06-LGBT-4-06.png) 56% -- Percentage of unmarried gay men in America who say they'd like to get [married](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2013/06/13/a-survey-of-lgbt-americans/5/#chapter-4-marriage-and-parenting) someday. 58% -- Percentage of unmarried U.S. lesbians who say they would. 45% -- Percentage of unmarried bisexuals who say they would.