Poll Shows a Nation Conflicted Over Marriage

Conflicting views on marriage equality and the government's legal recognition of same-sex couples are emerging from one new poll by the Associated Press and the National Constitution Center released Wednesday.

According to the poll, 53% of the 1,000 Americans surveyed say the government should have some level of legal recognition for gay and lesbian couples, a figure that has not changed since 2010. And even more people, 57% said the government should provide the same benefits to same-sex couples that straight couples receive.

Nearly half -- 48% -- of those polled said they would vote in favor of a federal constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality and define marriage as a union only for heterosexual adults. Overall, a majority of Americans, 55%, believe that marriage laws should be handled at the state level.

Among those polled about how passionate they are about the establishment of marriage equality, 44% of opponents say they find the issue extremely or very important. Conversely, 32% of gay marriage supporters said they viewed the issue as important.