POLL: Varying Support For Marriage Equality In Virginia

The latest Quinnipiac poll of Virginia indicates that 50% of respondents support marriage equality while only 43% oppose it. However, there have been at least four public polls of marriage equality in Virginia over the last year and support has varied extensively. In September 2012 support was at 49% Yes, 40% No, in April 2013 support was at 45% Yes, 41% No while in May 2013 support was at 56% Yes, 43% No.

The Quinnipiac poll found substantial age, gender, ethnic, educational, religious and political divides in the emotionally charged debate. 

Women who responded to the survey backed gay marriage 55 percent to 39 percent, but men opposed it 49 percent to 43 percent. 

Sixty-eight percent of self-identified Democrats supported gay marriage and 26 percent opposed it. Republican respondents opposed it by the same ratio. 

Sixty percent of those with college degrees supported same-sex marriage and 34 percent of college grads opposed it. Among those with no college degree, 49 percent opposed it and 45 percent supported it. 

Catholics favored gay marriage 56 percent to 40 percent, while Protestants opposed it 57 percent to 36 percent. Among those who identified themselves as born-again evangelicals, 74 percent opposed it. 

A majority of whites surveyed, 51 percent, supported gay marriage while black respondents opposed it 48 percent to 42 percent. 

Among voters age 18 to 29, 74 percent backed same-sex marriage, and 52 percent of those age 30 to 44 favor it. But among those 45 and older, majorities opposed it.

There is also a recent PPP poll (July 11, 2013) that shows in addition to marriage equality, Virginians support other equal rights for LGBT people. The PPP poll indicates that 55% of Virginians support marriage equality.

Hat/tip to Joe.My.God