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Gay Marriage Support Grows In All 50 States Over Eight Years: Williams Institute Poll

Gay Marriage Support Grows In All 50 States, Poll Finds
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A same-sex marriage supporter waves a rainbow flag in front of the US Supreme Court on March 26, 2013 in Washington, DC, as the Court takes up the issue of gay marriage. The US Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments on the emotionally charged issue of gay marriage as it considers arguments that it should make history and extend equal rights to same-sex couples. Waving US and rainbow flags, hundreds of gay marriage supporters braved the cold to rally outside the court along with a smaller group of opponents, some pushing strollers. Some slept outside in hopes of witnessing the historic hearing. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

Support for same-sex marriage has grown across all 50 U.S. states over the past eight years, a new report has found.

Published by the UCLA's Williams Institute, “Public Support for Marriage for Same-Sex Couples by State" examines each state's current stance on the legality of marriage equality, as well as the overall change in public opinion since 2004.

Over the past eight years, every U.S. state has increased in its support for same-sex marriage, with an average increase of 13.6 percent, and if the public opinion trends continue at the same pace, eight additional states will be above 50 percent support by the end of next year.

But lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights advocates shouldn't get overly optimistic by the report's findings, as Williams Institute researchers pointed to what was described as "a notable disparity" that exists across state boundaries, according to a press release.

Still, the findings seem in line with a number of other polls: a POLITICO and George Washington University survey found that, out of 1,000 likely voters, 40 percent of respondents said they support marriage equality, while 30 percent said they supported civil unions.

Meanwhile, a LifeWay Research study released in March found that nearly two-thirds of Americans believe legalized same-sex marriage in the U.S. is inevitable.

Read the full Williams Institute poll here.

Take a look a selection of findings from the report below.

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Before You Go

Public Support for Marriage For Same-Sex Couples By State
(01 of07)
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By the end of 2012, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, and the District of Columbia had support for same-sex marriage at or above 50 percent. (credit:AP)
(02 of07)
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Of these 12 states, all currently perform marriages, civil unions, or domestic partnerships for same-sex couples. (credit:AP)
(03 of07)
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Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota are currently within five percentage points of majority support. (credit:AP)
(04 of07)
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In the last eight years, every state has increased in its support for marriage for same-sex couples with an average increase of 13.6 percent. (credit:AP)
(05 of07)
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If present public opinion trends continue, another eight states will be above 50 percent support by the end of 2014. (credit:AP)
(06 of07)
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Research revealed a 31 percent difference between the lowest level of support found in a state and the highest. These marked differences have important consequences for predicting the outcome of future legislative activities and statewide initiatives around the issue. (credit:AP)
(07 of07)
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Since 2009, legislative majorities in six states – Maine, Maryland, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington – have passed laws introducing same-sex marriage and, over that same time period, legislatures in five additional states – Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, and Rhode Island – introduced civil unions or domestic partnerships for same-sex couples. (credit:AP)
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