A poll released by the University of Arkansas indicates that little has changed in the minds of Arkansans on the issue of same-sex marriage.
Since 2005, The Arkansas Poll has asked respondents to identify their attitude toward same-sex marriage and civil unions.
In 2005
The numbers in 2005 showed that:
- Only 15% of respondents supported same-sex marriage;
- 22% supported civil unions;
- 54% said there should be no legal recognition for a same-sex relationship.
In 2012
The numbers for 2012 show that:
- Only 18% support same-sex marriage;
- 20% support civil unions;
- 55% say there should be no legal recognition for a same-sex relationship.
To break it down, in the past seven years, the number of same-sex marriage supporters has risen by about 3%; the number who support civil unions has decreased by about 2% and the number who oppose same-sex marriage has increased by 1%.
This flies in the face of the popular projection that support for same-sex marriage has skyrocketed while support for the traditional definition of marriage is eroding away. At best, the few people who were once indifferent on the subject no longer are.
This underscores what we have said before: Same-sex marriage is not the “forgone conclusion” many would have us believe it is.
