Californians are
becoming more accepting of gay people, a new statewide
survey shows. The Field Poll, which is nonpartisan,
indicates that residents of California have become
more tolerant on a range of issues, including same-sex
marriage, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
On the question of marriage equality, the survey
reveals that 43% of Californians approve of same-sex
marriage, an increase from 38% in 1997, the last time
there was a similar poll. Disapproval of same-sex marriage
is down also, to 51% now compared with 56% in 1997.
When civil unions are added to the mix, 32% of
respondents said they favor marriage rights, 32% favor
civil unions, and 32% favor neither.
"As time passes, there is a greater acceptance
of gay and lesbian rights and greater support of
antidiscrimination policies," Mark DiCamillo, director
of the Field Poll, said. "That's the key finding."
Among other findings, 67% of Californians
support ending the military's ban on gays and
lesbians, while only 22% oppose such a move. The survey
questioned 1,000 California adults in February and has a
margin of error of plus or minus three percentage
points. (The Advocate)