Same sex marriage poll: two quick multiple choice questions, please take a moment to answer. Thanks!?

Question

1) Do you:

a) support the legalization of same-sex marriage

b) support civil unions but not marriage for same sex couples

c) oppose marrage and civil unions for same sex couples, but oppose an ammendment to the US Constituional outlawing same sex marriage.

d) support an ammendment to the US Constituional outlawing same sex marriage.

2) Do you know, or have you known,

a) 0 gay people

b) at least 1 gay person, but no gay couples

c) at least one gay couple

By "gay couple" I mean two gay or lesbian people living together, but not necessarily married.

Thanks for your replies! I have wanted to see this in the press, but never have so I thought I would ask it myself on Yahoo! Answers.

One more thing, I have heard a fair amount about civil unions in the news, but I do not understand the difference between a civil union, and a marriage in a courthouse. If you know the difference, or have any opinion on the difference, I would be interested in hearing it.

Summary of the Gay Marriage Poll Results:
The poll question was asked both in “Poll and Surveys” and in “Law and Ethics”. The results were fairly similar between the two categories, but there a few interesting differences. More people in “Poll and Surveys” than “Law and Ethics” knew at least one gay person (97% compared with 90%), however fewer knew a same-sex couple who lives together (62% compared with 77%). One possible explanation is that the “Poll and Surveys” are younger on average that the “Law and Ethics” people, but this is just a guess that I have no data to justify. Another difference that stood out was that the “Poll and Surveys” supported the legalization of gay marriage by a higher percentage than the “Law and Ethics” (67% compared with 53%).

As for the overall results, out of 69 total respondents (I received a total of 72 replies, but did not feel I could accurately interpret 3 of them – because they said either none of the above or I don’t know a a question),

here are the percentages. Question 1: A (61%), B (13%), C (9%), D (18%). Question 2: A (6%) B (26%) C (68%). I also looked at the conditional probabilities, that is, what was the probability of a certain response on question 1 given a particular response on question 2. Here are the results:

1A given 2A: 50%
1A given 2B: 44%
1A given 2C: 68%
1B given 2A: 0%
1B given 2B: 17%
1B given 2C: 13%
1C given 2A: 25%
1C given 2B: 17%
1C given 2C: 4%
1D given 2A: 25%
1D given 2B: 22%
1D given 2C: 15%

Final thoughts: The number of respondents who supported the legalization of same-sex marriage (61%) was higher than in any of the national polls I have seen. Clearly my poll was nonscientific clearly there is some sort of bias to my poll with respect to national polls. There are many differences between Yahoo! Answerers and the general US population: Yahoo! Answerers are younger, Yahoo! Answerers are more likely to own a computer/use the internet, ...

Answer 1

A civil union is a legally recognized union similar to marriage. Beginning with Denmark in 1989, civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in many developed countries in order to provide same-sex couples with rights, benefits, and responsibilities similar (in some countries, identical) rights and responsibilities to opposite-sex civil marriage. In some jurisdictions, such as Quebec, New Zealand, and Uruguay civil unions are also open to opposite-sex couples.

Most civil-union countries recognize foreign unions if those are essentially equivalent to their own; for example, the United Kingdom, lists equivalent unions in Civil Partnership Act Schedule 20.

Many people are critical of civil unions because they say they represent separate status unequal to marriage ("marriage apartheid").[1][2] Others are critical because they say civil unions allow same-sex marriage by using a different name.

I myself am a lesbian. I know lots and lots of gay couples, single gay, and lesbians. I support gay marriage of course, we pay rent and bills just like anyone else. We are not aliens. We just have a different sexual preferance than straight ppl. I know lots of straight ppl too.

Answer 2

1.
A) - Yes
B) - Only as a “It’s better than nothing” measure, but I don’t believe that this should be done as an alternative.
C) - I oppose a constitutional amendment outlawing anything having to do with marriage.
D) - NO
2. - C. I have known (and still know) a few gay couples.

Marriage is a legal and binding joining. All tax benefits, and any services or offerings made to married couples would apply. Inheritance law, adoption laws, and any other legal statutes apply to a married couple, regardless of sex or sexual orientation.

A civil union is recognition by a state government of a union between two people. Many laws, benefits and legal statutes do not apply to a civil union.

Answer 3

1. A
2. C

Answer 4

1. b
2. c

I see the opposition of same sex marriage coming from the religious right. Certain aspects of their argument I see. Marriage has always been traditionally and historically between a man and a woman. That part I agree with. Calling gay people immoral, I don't agree with. Gay people have just as much right to be happy as I do. However, I think they should leave the term marriage alone. But they should have every right to enter into a civil union and be legally withwhom they choose. What they do behind closed doors is their business and not mine.

Answer 5

a and c. I know lots of gay and lesbian people. I'm no expert, but I think marriage involves religiosity and civil unions involve legality. I think civil will come before marriage. I think we ourselves define what marriage is or isn't. We can always change the rules. The bible and koran were written by people using their own cultural values at the time. If we were to survey families today, I think we would see a lot of single head of household, non-married couples , heterosexual unions and gay and lesbian unions. I think the rules should reflect what society is actually doing and not what some 2000 year old book supposedly promotes (depending how each individual interprets it). I am heterosexual by the way but I believe in live and let live.

Answer 6

1) I support the legalization of same-sex marriage.

2) I know and have known at least 1 gay couple.

Civil unions recognize the union between two people, but those two people are not able to receive certain benefits such as

The right to federal benefits. States that allow some type of same-sex union are able to grant only state rights. The Defense of Marriage Act passed in 1996 prohibits same-sex couples from receiving federal marriage rights and benefits.
Portability. Because civil unions are not recognized by all states, such agreements are not always valid when couples cross state lines.

Specifically, the benefits of marriage include

Taxes. Couples in a civil union may file a joint state tax return, but they must file federal tax returns as single persons. This may be advantageous to some couples, not so for others. One advantage for married couples is the ability to transfer assets and wealth without incurring tax penalties. Partners in a civil union aren't permitted to do that, and thus may be liable for estate and gift taxes on such transfers.

Health insurance. The state-federal divide is even more complicated in this arena. In the wake of the Massachusetts high court ruling, the group Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders put together a guide to spousal health care benefits. GLAD’s document is Massachusetts-specific but provides insight into how health insurance laws would apply to those in a civil union in other states. In general, GLAD says, it comes down to what’s governed by state law and what’s subject to federal oversight. If a private employer’s health plans are subject to Massachusetts state insurance laws, benefits must be extended to a same-sex spouse. If the health plan is governed by federal law, the employer can choose whether or not to extend such benefits.

Social Security survivor benefits. If a spouse or divorced spouse dies, the survivor may have a right to Social Security payments based on the earnings of the married couple, rather than only the survivor’s earnings. Same-sex couples are not eligible for such benefits.

These are some of the benefits which are included

state tax benefits, better access to family health plans, co-parenting privileges, automatic preference for guardianship and decision-making authority for a medically incapacitated partner, as well as protection under state divorce and separation laws.

Answer 7

1) B. only support common law, not marriage.
2) B. don't know any actual gay couples in serious relationships, just gay people.

Marriage is a commitment of a man and a woman before God. Civil unions are a joining of two people that is recognized by the state but does not have any religious implications. That is my view of it anyway.

Answer 8

1) Do you:

a) support the legalization of same-sex marriage

2) Do you know, or have you known,

c) at least one gay couple

I've known several gay couples over my years. In my experience, they have been just as committed to long-term, loving relationships as the hetro couples I know.

Can't wait to read the results of this question.
And, I don't know what makes the difference between civil unions and marriage and why it's anyone's business who loves love and who marries or unites with who.

Answer 9

1a
2c
(I live in he Netherlands where same sex marriages are legal.
I my town two local aldermen are married this way, but not to each other. This is totally acceptable to the majority of the population & even regarded as a non-issue, not worth disscussing.)

Answer 10

1) A
2) C

I don't fully know the difference, but I know some companies recognize civil unions (for things like Insurance and whatnot). So if you have a civil union, and your company recognizes it, you can leave money to your significant other of the same sex if you die...

:)