Interesting poll data on marriage from Maryland

[MNBrewer]

[xchrom]

1. Du rec. Nt

[Orangepeel]

4. I don't think that's correct

I think you are absolutely correct that it was used as a wedge issue, but not that Americans were generally accepting beforehand. It's always been a struggle.

Support for marriage equality was 11% in 1988 (earliest number I could find http://chicagopressrelease.com/news/americans-move-dramatically-toward-acceptance-of-homosexuality-survey-finds)

It hasn't been so long since most Americans thought homosexuality should be illegal.

[seabeyond]

7. i am not finding anything to support it, you are right. maybe it was on younger people

i was a younger people then. sorry.

gonna delete.

[MarkCharles]

3. The only exception seems to be African American Dems...

I wonder why that continues year after year.

[MNBrewer]

5. Here's one reason

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_church

[MarkCharles]

8. Yeah, the influence of Christian and Muslim religion in the...

lives of African Americans is probably more pervasive than for another ethnicity, but there's plenty of anti-gay in white folks' churches, too.

I'm interested in finding out if there's other elements in Afro-American ethnic culture which gravitate toward that attitude.

[MNBrewer]

10. Yes, the Muslim factor is growing

Some are pro-equality, but it's kind of like with Christians. it "predisposes" them to anti-gay bigotry.

Overall, the anti-gay bias seems to be more pervasive and more of a core issue in the "black church" than in whatever the "white church" is. I know the mostly white denomination I grew up in is struggling with it (United Methodist Church). I predict schism over it. I don't see that the house divided can stand.

[LostinRed]

13. I would like to see a poll about the influence of religion on all anti-gay opinions

I think that most people are anti-gay because their religion tells them to be anti-gay

[William769]

6. Thanks for the poll data.

[joeybee12]

9. I don't think a hot button issue has ever seen such a

dramatic trunaround in so short a time. knr

[MNBrewer]

11. I agree

The rapidity of the change is stunning. I think it's the product of the coming out process. Once you know that your friends, neighbors, co-workers or family members are GLBT, it takes away the "otherness" of it.

[joeybee12]

12. And if before you were opposed to marriage equality, there's

now a face of who exactly you're opposing...it can really make one think