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POLL: Gays More Concerned With Economy Than Same-Sex Marriage

A new online poll conducted by Harris Interactive and Logo indicates LGBT people, like their straight counterparts, arereallyfreaking out about the economy. In fact, economic issues, unemployment and health care ranked significantly higher than gay rights. (Of course, those issues can involve LGBT equality: Just ask anyone whose been fired for being a lesbian and has no legal recourse.)

A total of 1,367 registered voters were surveyed earlier this month to reflect the general populace, with an additional 1,190 LGBT voters representing the gay community. Below is a ranking of issues by order of importance, both to LGBT voters and the general population. (Statistically significant differences indicated by **)

 

 

Percentage of LGBT Voters

Gen Pop Voters

Economic issues

18

24**

Unemployment/jobs

14

15

Health care

12

12

Gay rights in general

9**

1

Social Security

7

7

Federal budget deficit

6

11**

Same-sex marriage

6**

1

 

Other questions focused on support for LGBT issues among the general electorate.

 Q.  Are you more likely or less likely to vote for a candidate who supports the following issues, or would it have no effect on your voting behavior?

 

 

General Population Voters

 

More Likely

Less Likely

More – Less

Legislation to define and prevent bullying of LGBT students

49

12

+37

Laws that prohibit workplace discrimination of gays and lesbians

48

14

+34

Continuing to allow gays to openly serve in the military

41

19

+22

Legal recognition of same-sex marriage

38

31

+7

Adoptions by gay parents

36

23

+13

The data revealed support for marriage equality gained more than 20 percentage points in the past five years alone, from 31% of the general population in 2007 to 52% in 2012. Among independents, that number went from 36% to 55%.  “LGBT rights are no longer a wedge issue in American politics. Instead, support for LGBT rights is now a mainstream position and candidates stand to benefit from their support for LGBT rights,” said Kenneth Sherrill, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Hunter College.

Not surprisingly, those polled leaned toward reelecting President Obama over voting for Mitt Romney, 48% to 42%. Amog LGBT voters that split was 67-23. (Seriously? C’mon, people!)

“The findings in this survey demonstrate what many Americans, gay and straight, have been feeling intuitively: we have reached an historic turning point in the lives of Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Transgender Americans,” said Logo general manager Lisa Sherman. “To see numbers indicating such dramatic support among significant segments of the voting public for LGBT people is heartening—America is filled with allies and champions of gay Americans.”

Results from the survey will be discussed during Logo’s campaign specials, NewNowNext Vote with Wanda Sykes on September 10 and November 5.

 

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