Full Breakdown
U.S. Support for Same-Sex Marriage Levels Off Amid Growing Partisan Divide, Gallup Finds
6/3/2026, 10:07:41 PM
Poll Findings Show Stabilization of Same-Sex Marriage Support
A Gallup poll conducted May 1-17 2024 surveyed 1,001 U.S. adults by telephone. Overall, 65 % say same-sex marriage should be legal, down from 71 % in 2022 and 2023. The decline is driven by Republicans, of whom only 37 % now favor legal recognition and 35 % deem gay and lesbian relationships morally acceptable. Democratic and independent views remain largely unchanged, with majorities in both groups supporting marriage equality and deeming same-sex relations moral.
Historical Trajectory of Public Opinion
Gallup’s longitudinal data show support rising from 27 % in 1996 to a peak of about 70 % in recent years. Moral acceptance climbed from roughly 40 % in 2001 to 71 % in 2022, then fell to 62 % in the latest survey, marking the first slowdown after two decades of growth.
Key Numbers from the May 2024 Survey
- Legal same-sex marriage support: 65 % (down 6 pts from 2022/23)
- Republican support for marriage equality: 37 %
- Overall moral acceptance of gay/lesbian relations: 62 % (down 9 pts)
- Moral acceptance of gender change: 40 % (down from ~50 % in 2021)
- Married same-sex couples nationwide: >800,000 (Williams Institute, UCLA)
Political Reactions and Legislative Activity
The Supreme Court declined a petition to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, issuing no comment; Justice Clarence Thomas has publicly urged reversal. The Southern Baptist Convention called for a ban on same-sex marriage, while the Tennessee House passed a measure allowing private entities to refuse recognition of same-sex unions and the Idaho House adopted a resolution urging the Court to undo Obergefell. Associated Press analysis of Plural’s bill tracking shows legislators in at least 11 states introduced same-sex marriage bans this session, though most proposals stalled.
Republican Opposition and State-Level Efforts to Restrict Marriage Equality
Republican-led states have intensified campaigns targeting LGBTQ rights, including bans on gender-affirming care for minors, bathroom restrictions, and exclusion of transgender athletes, and former President Donald Trump signed executive orders echoing many of these policies, reflecting the broader retreat among Republican voters shown in the poll.
Broader Implications for LGBTQ Rights
The narrowing support underscores a widening partisan divide that could shape future court battles and policy decisions, while declining moral acceptance of same-sex relationships and gender transition suggests a potential backlash affecting LGBTQ protections beyond marriage, including healthcare, education, and sports.
Conflicting Reports and Uncertainties in the Data
With a 4-point margin of error, the 6-point dip in overall support may fall within statistical variance, and while Republican attitudes decline, Democratic and independent views remain stable, creating a partisan asymmetry the survey does not fully explain.
Future Outlook and Upcoming Legal Challenges
State-level bans on same-sex marriage are expected to reappear, and the Supreme Court is slated to hear arguments on transgender-related sports restrictions in January 2026, tests that could further influence public opinion and the durability of the 2015 marriage-equality precedent.
