Tuesday, January 26, 2010

It's Spreading


When marriage equality was legalized in Washington DC, all sorts of folks in states surrounding the District wondered what might happen to them. Should they enact marriage equality legislation? Should they recognize marriages performed in DC?
Well, for the first time, a new poll has revealed that more Marylanders support marriage equality than oppose: 47 percent to 44 percent; more than half would vote to keep such unions if they became legal.


The Greenberg Research, commissioned by Equality Maryland, also found significant gains in feelings toward the LGBT community compared with previous polls, including among Catholic and African-American voters. Although there was some hostility toward homosexuality, the pollsters noted there was common ground that LGBT activists could explore.

From the report: “[E]ven among more observant Catholics, there are opportunities to build bridges. “The African-American community is in a somewhat different place. A majority of these voters believe homosexuality is a sin and there are also some class resentments that emerge, more so in the focus groups than in this survey. Still, this research finds some common ground here as well.”

Equality Maryland was sure to release the poll results this week, just ahead of efforts to win more co-sponsors for the marriage equality bill state Senator Richard Madeleno is planning to introduce.

Take the step, Maryland.

3 comments:

  1. This is very encouraging!

    I just hope that the people who are willing to stand up for marriage equality in a poll, also have the courage to do so when they are in a voting booth!

    But great steps are being made!

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  2. Very encouraging for MD. But don't hold your breath for VA, the other state that borders DC. VA has the worst anti-GLBT laws imaginable, and they just voted them in a few years ago.

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