A new poll
released Monday shows that 53% of people in New York
State support marriage rights for gay people, up from
47% two years ago. The poll also showed that support
for legally recognizing out-of-state same-sex
marriages climbed to 57% from 52% in 2004.
The study, conducted by the Global Strategy
Group in March for statewide gay rights group Empire
State Pride Agenda, is in line with recent ones around
the country showing rising support for LGBT families, such
as the Field Poll in California earlier this year that
showed a majority of the state's residents are in
favor of marriage equality.
"A growing majority of New Yorkers support
ending discrimination in marriage," Alan Van Capelle,
executive director of Empire State Pride Agenda, said
in a statement. "There is a clear trend of support
moving in our direction, and we are very encouraged by these findings."
The poll also showed that there would be little
political damage to a politician who voted to grant
marriage equality, with 42% of respondents saying that
such a stance would make no difference to them, and 26%
saying they were more inclined to support the official.
"Many of our elected officials have stated their
support for our right to marry," said Van Capelle,
whose internal memo criticizing New York senator
Hillary Rodham Clinton's lack of support for marriage
equality was recently leaked. "They're standing with
us, and for that we are grateful. We hope others who
are still thinking about this issue will decide it's
time to join us."
The poll sampled 658 likely New York State
voters and has a margin of error of 3.8%. (The Advocate)