Posted by Sir Four at 1:00pm Mar 4 '04First thing to consider: The younger generations have more favorable views toward homosexuality and gay marriage than the older generations. The trend over the years is toward increasing tolerance and acceptance. With this in mind, does it make sense to pass an amendment to the constitution forbidding gay marriage? Amendments are fairly permanent things. It is clear that older conservatives are pushing for it to buck the trend, because they want their views carved into stone regardless of the fact that the up-coming generations are increasingly less likely to support such an amendment. It is as if the anti-gay people are trying to use the constitution as a way of forcing the views of their generation onto future generations.
In 1987, 51% of the population thought that schools should be allowed to fire teachers for being gay. Today, only 33% think that way. In 1977, 56% thought gays should have equal rights. Today, 88% do.
60% of 80 year olds oppose gay marriage. 42% of 25 year olds oppose it.
Also interesting, it seems that the less education you've had, the more likely you are to oppose gay marriage. Out of college graduates, 54% held a favorable view on gays. That number drops as education decreases, going down to just 22% for people who have never graduated high school. Anti-gay views are also more prominent in rural areas.
The #1 reason given for opposing gay marriage is that it is either morally wrong, a sin, the Bible says so, or that it's against the person's religious beliefs. 45% of people cited religious views as their reason for opposing gay marriage, and no other reason even comes close to that. Consider that for a minute, and the implications of writing religious views into the constitution.
Interestingly, 1% of the public opposes gay marriage because gay "don't have stable, long-term relationships." I wonder if it occurred to these people that allowing gays to marry might alleviate this alleged problem to a degree. (Also, couldn't this be a reason against straight marriages, too? =P)
Basically, it seems that people who are younger, have had more education, who personally know gay people, and who are less motivated by religious views have more of a favorable opinion of gay marriage. When older Americans were young, it was less common to go to college. Homosexuality was taboo. It was less common to personally know a gay person. For some of them, the only gays they've seen are the flamboyant ones put on display in the religious propaganda. We know that with greater exposure to real people of a repressed minority comes greater tolerance, and it usually can be seen in the younger generations, while the older ones remain stuck in their ways. It isn't right that the older generation, especially the highly religious and/or less educated among them, are trying to foist their old-world views on future generations.
What do you think?
In 1987, 51% of the population thought that schools should be allowed to fire teachers for being gay. Today, only 33% think that way. In 1977, 56% thought gays should have equal rights. Today, 88% do.
60% of 80 year olds oppose gay marriage. 42% of 25 year olds oppose it.
Also interesting, it seems that the less education you've had, the more likely you are to oppose gay marriage. Out of college graduates, 54% held a favorable view on gays. That number drops as education decreases, going down to just 22% for people who have never graduated high school. Anti-gay views are also more prominent in rural areas.
The #1 reason given for opposing gay marriage is that it is either morally wrong, a sin, the Bible says so, or that it's against the person's religious beliefs. 45% of people cited religious views as their reason for opposing gay marriage, and no other reason even comes close to that. Consider that for a minute, and the implications of writing religious views into the constitution.
Interestingly, 1% of the public opposes gay marriage because gay "don't have stable, long-term relationships." I wonder if it occurred to these people that allowing gays to marry might alleviate this alleged problem to a degree. (Also, couldn't this be a reason against straight marriages, too? =P)
Basically, it seems that people who are younger, have had more education, who personally know gay people, and who are less motivated by religious views have more of a favorable opinion of gay marriage. When older Americans were young, it was less common to go to college. Homosexuality was taboo. It was less common to personally know a gay person. For some of them, the only gays they've seen are the flamboyant ones put on display in the religious propaganda. We know that with greater exposure to real people of a repressed minority comes greater tolerance, and it usually can be seen in the younger generations, while the older ones remain stuck in their ways. It isn't right that the older generation, especially the highly religious and/or less educated among them, are trying to foist their old-world views on future generations.
What do you think?
added on 1:10pm Mar 4 '04:
To whoever rated this post a 3, maybe you could share your criteria for what an above-3 post would be, in your opinion. Thanks, because I'm really curious.Link: source for the stats
Interesting statistics on gay marriage - Sir Four