Survey reveals slight decrease in US public support for same-sex marriage for first time in a decade

Last updated on March 19th, 2024 at 09:46 am

Public support for same-sex marriage in the United States has declined slightly for the first time in almost a decade, according to a new survey by the Public Religion Research Institute. The study found that same-sex marriage approval dropped from 69% to 67% between 2022 and 2023. This decline is noteworthy, given that the last decrease was almost a decade ago when it slipped from 54% in 2014 to 53% in 2015.

Breakdown of the data reveals a drop in support among Republicans, from 49% in 2022 to 47% in 2023, and a slight dip among independent voters, from 73% to 71% across the same period. Meanwhile, Democratic support for same-sex marriage has grown, from 65% in 2014 to 82% in 2023.

The institute’s survey also showed a decrease in support among religious groups. Among American Catholics, support slid from 75% in 2022 to 73% in 2023, with a sharper decline among Hispanic Catholics: from 75% to 68%. The least support was recorded amongst Mormons, Hispanic Protestants, Muslims, white evangelicals, and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Moreover, while a majority of Americans support LGBT non-discrimination policies, overall approval for these policies also fell slightly, from 80% in 2022 to 76% in 2023. This comes amidst a background of courts upholding measures like parental notification school mandates and bans on gender transition procedures for minors.