Gay Marriage Poll Shows Racial Split Among New York Voters

A recent poll by Quinnipiac University has revealed that New York State voters are split on the issue of same-sex marriage, with Black, 55+ voters and Catholics and Republicans opposed to the issue.

The Quinnipiac poll broke the issue down by a variety of demographics, here are some of the stats:

Religion

• Jews support same-sex marriage 61 to 34 percent.
• Catholics oppose same-sex marriage 53-39 percent.
• Protestants oppose it 55-38 percent.

Age

• New York voters over the age of 55 are opposed to same-sex marriage 55 to 37 percent
• Voters between 35 and 54 support the measure 48 to 44 percent
  
• Voters between 18-34 support the measure 61 to 33 percent.

Race

• Black voters oppose same-sex marriage 57-35
  
• Hispanics voters oppose the measure 48-45
  
• White voters favor the measure, 47-45
  
  

Political Party

• Democrats support same-sex marriage 59 - 34 percent
• Republicans oppose it 68 - 24
  
• Independent voters were split with 46 percent in favor and 45 percent opposed.

Other information that was gathered by the poll included:

The question of whether Gays and lesbians are born that way, 46 percent of New York State voters say they are, while 29 percent of New Yorkers say people choose their sexual orientation and 6 percent say it is decided by upbringing.

On the question of whether same-sex marriage is a threat to traditional marriage between a man and a woman, New York State voters reject the idea by 63 - 32 percent Voters in every racial and religious group, men and women reject the argument. Only Republicans were split 48 - 48 percent.

On the question of whether same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children, voters were in favor, 60 - 31 percent. Although black voters narrowly oppose gay adoption, whites, Hispanics, men and women and all religious groups support the measure.

On the question of whether ending discrimination against gay men and women is as important as the civil rights movement of the 1960s, New York State voters say 55 - 39 percent, with agreement among all racial, religious and age groups. Only Republicans disagree 50 - 44 percent.

On the question of whether denying same sex couples the right to marry is discrimination, voters agreed, but by a narrow margin of 49 - 46 percent. White voters were split 49 - 47 percent, while black voters say 48 - 44 percent that this is not discrimination.

Ninety-three percent of New York State voters say they are heterosexual, with 2 percent who say they are gay or lesbian and 1 percent who say they are bisexual.

Sixty-three percent of voters say they have friends or close relatives who are gay or lesbian.

From May 5 - 11, 2009, Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,828 New York State registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 1.8 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and nationwide as a public service and for research.