Sea change: Americans revising opinions on gays, poll finds

[xchrom]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/08/14/236539/sea-change-americans-revising.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1



WASHINGTON — Americans are changing their minds about gays at a startling pace, driven by young people coming of age in a new era and by people of all ages increasingly familiar with gays and lesbians in their families and their lives, according to a new McClatchy-Marist Poll.

A solid majority support same-sex marriage, confirming the fast-turning tide that’s started appearing over the last three years. A majority say they wouldn’t be upset or very upset if a child were gay, up dramatically from a generation ago. And an overwhelming majority say it would make no difference to them if a candidate for Congress were gay, up sharply.

The sea change in attitudes is being propelled by two major forces, the poll found. First, people aged 18-29 overwhelmingly favor same-sex marriage. Second, the ranks of Americans who say they know someone who’s gay has skyrocketed over the last decade and a half. And those who know someone who’s gay are almost twice as likely to support same-sex marriage, the survey found.

“It is a sea change in attitude,” said Lee Miringoff, the director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion in New York, which conducted the survey. “You’d be hard-pressed to find an issue that has had a bigger shift in public opinion.”

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/08/14/236539/sea-change-americans-revising.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1#storylink=cpy

[MarianJack]

1. And it's about time, too!

Up here in Maine, we're likely to be electing the first openly gay governor this year. When he came out, Mike Michaud gave my son more of a lesson in manliness that every macho shitheat homophone Republican/teabagger combined ever!

GO MIKE MICHAUD!!!

PEACE!

[pinto]

2. the ranks of Americans who say they know someone who’s gay has skyrocketed

the ranks of Americans who say they know someone who’s gay has skyrocketed over the last decade and a half

[dbackjon]

4. This is so important

If my experience is the norm, just coming out to friends and family is huge deal in how they perceive gays.

[MNBrewer]

3. Ages 18-29 are overwhelmingly accepting

In 10 years that will be 18-39. In 20 years that will be 18-49 and by then it's totally game-over for NOM and it's ilk. They won't be able to raise $5.

[RKP5637]

5. Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! K&R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t