Favorability for marriage equality among Utah residents has increased in the past decade, a new poll found.
Forty-eight percent of Utahns said they believe same-sex couples should be allowed to obtain state-issued marriage licenses, according to the poll. A decade ago, 66% of Utahns who participated in the 2004 general election voted for Amendment 3, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman. It also banned state recognition of civil unions and domestic partnerships.
Seventy-two percent of residents recently said the state should allow same-sex couples to form civil unions, according to the new poll. SurveyUSA, an independent, non-partisan opinion research firm, presented nine questions to 600 randomly-chosen Utahns during a telephone survey between Jan. 10 and Jan. 13.
U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. Shelby ruled on Dec. 20, 2013 the state’s same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional. Last week, though, the U.S. Supreme Court granted Utah’s request for a temporary halt on same-sex nuptials.
Thirty-six percent of Utahns said their views on marriage equality have changed throughout time, the poll found.
In addition to the 48% of residents who approve of same-sex marriage licenses in Utah, the same percent disagreed. The state was also evenly divided – 45% – on laws allowing same-sex couples to adopt children.
Approval was lowest among Mormons and Republicans.
Michele Richinick