Pro-Marriage Equality Trend Continues

by: Hopeful

Thu Mar 03, 2011 at 06:30:00 PM EST

The survey finds a continuing rise in support for same-sex marriage since 2009. Currently, 45% say they favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally while 46% are opposed. In Pew Research surveys conducted in 2010, 42% favored and 48% opposed gay marriage and in 2009, just 37% backed same-sex marriage while 54% were opposed

Yglesias is optimistic that the U.S. Supreme Court may be sympathetic too and that polls like these would provide Justices cover.

Individual states show the same results. Public Policy Polling's released North Carolina results this week:

PPP's newest poll finds that a majority of North Carolinians support some form of legal recognition for gay couples. 28% favor civil unions and 24% want full marriage rights for a total of 52% supportive of greater rights for same sex relationships compared to just 46% who think there should continue to be no legal recognition.

As you know, New Jersey long ago surpassed those poll numbers.  Notably, NC independents are very supportive.

A vote in Maryland is expected soon after a brief holdup.