U.S. Support for Same-Sex Marriage Is Strong, Despite Dip

Around seven in ten U.S. adults said in a recent Gallup survey that they think same-sex marriage should be legal and have the same rights as heterosexual couples. LGBT+ rights have come a long way since 1996, when the polling organization first started polling the topic. Back then, only 27 percent of respondents said they thought that same-sex marriage should be recognized by the law as valid.

The latest figure, from a survey in May 2024, shows that 69 percent of respondents supported same-sex marriage. While still one of the highest rates since the question was first fielded, it also represents a dip from the 2023 peak of 71 percent. Stances on same-sex marriage vary by party leaning, with 83 percent of Democrats, 74 percent of independents and 46 percent of Republicans in favor of it. According to Gallup, although Republican support reached a majority twice, with 55 percent readings in 2021 and 2022, it has fallen below in the 50 percent mark in the past couple of years.