A majority of Americans continue to oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally. Just over half (53%) oppose same-sex marriage, while 39% support it. The issue cuts along demographic, political and religious lines. Older Americans are far less supportive than young people (a 58%-majority of those ages 18-29 support gay marriage). Blacks are less supportive than are whites and Hispanics. Women are more supportive than men. Those with college education are more supportive than those without. Southerners and Midwesterners are more likely to oppose same-sex marriage than are those in the East and West. But religion and politics provide the starkest differences. While 72% of liberal Democrats support same-sex marriage, an equally overwhelming 81% of conservative Republicans oppose it. And while a majority of those who never or seldom attend religious services are pro gay marriage (54%), less than a quarter of those that attend regularly (22%) support it. Read More

Russell Heimlich  is a former web developer at Pew Research Center.