This report from Maggie
Gallagher's anti-gay marriage website analyzes data from the latest
Gallup polls, which show a drop in support for same-sex
marriage:
After eighteen months of intense public scrutiny, polls show strong and increasing opposition to same-sex marriage. Between June 2003 and March 2005, opposition to gay marriage rose from 55 percent to 68 percent in Gallup polling. In the last 18 months, the proportion of Americans who support a constitutional amendment defining marriage has also risen seven points from 50 to 57 percent.
I know, the website is not exactly unbiased, but I've seen reference to these Gallup numbers elsewhere and no counter-explanation on any of the gay sites. A knowledgeable poll-watcher tells me Gallagher, unfortunately, seems to have it right. If that is in fact the case, then the silence from gay groups in the face of bad news is just as worrisome as their to-date less than successful efforts to garner public support for the cause of marriage equality.
Update: The numbers get debated, as does the
wording of the poll questions, in the comments zone. Also noted:
GLAAD did weigh
in on Gallup's findings.