A majority of Americans, especially men, African-Americans and regular church-goers, oppose same-sex marriage and want the Supreme Court to keep its paws off the issue, according to a poll released Tuesday.
The survey by the Family Research Council and other family groups found that 53 percent of registered voters believe marriage should be defined as a union between a man and woman, and 61 percent believe the decision to recognize marriage is a state issue, not one for the nation’s top court.
And 81 percent said government should “leave people free to follow their beliefs about marriage as they live their daily lives at work and in the way they run their businesses.”
The poll of 800 registered voters conducted Feb. 2-4 by WPA Research was provided in advance of its release to Secrets.
Among details, the survey found that over half of men, women 55 and older, whites, African-Americans and those who attend church once a week or more believe that marriage should be defined as between a man and woman. Majorities of women aged 18-54, Hispanics and those who rarely or never attend church disagree.
It draws new attention to the issue as it heads to the top court and as some business around the nation are being punished for refusing to recognize same-sex marriage.
“This survey tells us that the American people will not accept marriage redefinition by judicial fiat because it is evident that Americans have not reached a ‘broad social consensus’ on the redefinition of marriage which is how we change our nation’s policies in a nation that is ruled by law,” said Family Research Council President Tony Perkins in a statement before releasing the survey by the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville.
“The marriage debate will only intensify as the American people realize they will be required to surrender their fundamental right to believe and the right to live their lives according to those beliefs. The evidence will mount as families are driven from their businesses and even homes as the result of crippling government imposed fines designed to force them to deny their faith,” he added.
Perkins cited an Oregon bake shop, for example, warned it would face fines of up to $150,000 for declining to make a same-sex wedding cake.
“Cultural elites may succeed in convincing judges to strip away the livelihoods of people,” said Perkins, “but the elites face a losing battle in the court of public opinion.”
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
