North Carolina is divided on same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriage divides North Carolina the way it divides the rest of the nation. And there’s no clear consensus among North Carolinians. When asked if they support or oppose same-sex marriage, 45 percent of respondents said they oppose it and 44 percent said they support it.

To a great extent, it’s a moot issue today, given that last year N.C. voters passed a constitutional amendment saying that marriage is between one man and one woman. As politicians discuss how their views are “evolving,” it is unclear that North Carolinians’ are.

Digging deeper in our poll, people are divided by their:

Politics: 57 percent of Democrats, 49 percent of Independents and 21 percent of Republicans said they support same sex-marriage.

Age: 55 percent of 18- 30-year olds support it, declining steadily to 30 percent of 65 years and older.

Gender: 50 percent of women support it vs. 36 percent of men.

Race: 44 percent of whites support it vs. 36 percent of blacks.

We also asked if respondents had a relative or friend who was gay or lesbian. Sixty-eight percent said they do. “Only 30 percent of those without a
gay or lesbian friend or relative supported gay marriage compared to 49 percent
support among those with a gay or lesbian friend or relative,” said Poll Director Ken Fernandez.

Nationally, last month Pew Research took a look at several recent polls and concluded: “All of the major national polls now find more supporters than opponents of same-sex marriage. But there is no consensus in the polling as to just how many Americans now actually think that same-sex marriage should be legal.”

— John Robinson