Support for same-sex marriage has reached a new high.
Ahead of a Supreme Court hearing next week that could pave the way for same sex marriages nationwide, 61 percent of Americans now say gays and lesbians should be allowed to wed legally, according to a new ABC News/Washington Post poll.
Furthermore, 61 percent oppose allowing states to profit same-sex marriage, while another 62 percent support requiring states to recognize same-sex marriages performed legally in other states.
How the times have changed: In June 2006, just 36 percent of Americans said it should be legal for gays and lesbians to marry. In 2009, 49 percent said that before jumping to 53 percent in early 2011.
Now, “strong” support for allowing same-sex marriages exceeds “strong” opposition by 15 percent, the poll found.
The random telephone-based poll — done by Langer Research Associates — of roughly 1,000 U.S. adults was conducted April 16-20 with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points
