America's Views of Gays

THOMAS L. STEIGER: America solidly divided on issue of gay marriage Times are changing. Too fast for some, not fast enough for others, but they are changing.

Some results from various polls.

• 89% believe gays and lesbians should have equal rights in job opportunities. (Up from 56% in 1977)
• 68% say gays should be included in federal hate crimes legislation.
• 79% think gays and lesbians should be able to serve openly in the military.
• 57% believe gays and lesbians should be able to adopt.

It is around the question of gay marriage that things get more complicated. But if you ask people should gays/lesbians be allowed to legally marry, or should there be civil unions, or should there be no recognition, only 40% say there should be no recognition.

Age - not surprisingly - is the main divide on the issue of gay marriage/civil unions. Young people are more accepting than the old.

So change will occur. Current efforts to change state constitutions may slow that change, but Equality is a great idea, and it is hard to kill an idea.