Study says only 1/3 of Americans think gays are born that way

Forty-three percent of Americans now support gay marriage, but forty-seven percent still do not. A new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll, released today, also finds that forty-seven percent “think homosexuality is a choice.” Only a third (34%) of Americans think people are born gay.

Still, efforts by the LGBTQ community to “share their stories,” in the belief that the more people who are personally familiar with someone’s who’s gay, the more they’ll support equality seem to be working. Coincidentally, 53% of Americans claim to have friends or relatives who are openly gay or lesbian – and 53% of Americans – a clear majority – “support granting legal rights to same-sex couples,” the poll found.

But these numbers change depending upon the respondent’s personal life situation:

Remarkably, the poll found that Americans who are widowed, single and have never been married, and those co-habiting with a significant other but not married, are much more likely than others to support same-sex marriage and/or legal unions with full rights. In the matter of same-sex marriages, support is as follows:

• Living with significant other – 65%

• Single/Never married – 56%

• Widowed – 51%

• Divorced – 38%

• Married – 34%

• Separated – 34%

In the matter of same-sex legal unions, support is as follows:

• Widowed – 76%

• Living with significant other – 71%

• Single/Never married – 57%

• Separated – 48%

• Married – 46%

• Divorced – 45%