Most Americans Now Believe Same-Sex Marriage Is 'Inevitable'

As LGBT Americans await the U.S. Supreme Court's rulings on the Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8, nearly three quarters of Americans (72%) believe the legalization of same-sex marriage is "inevitable," according to a new poll released by the Pew Research Center .

This includes the opinions of both 85% of supporters and 59% of those who oppose marriage equality.

The national survey was conducted May 1-5 among 1,504 people and found for the first time in the history of Pew Research polling that over half of Americans (51%) believe same-sex marriage should be legal.

However, Pew researchers note the issue is still a divisive one. Some 42% of those polled said they opposed marriage equality, and 45% believe homosexual acts are sinful, while an equal number does not.

Nevertheless, the new poll highlights a positive shift in public attitudes toward LGBT people over the past decade in several areas, including the fact that 60% of Americans now say homosexuality should be accepted rather than condemned, as compared to 31% in a 2003 poll.

See the full report of the Pew Research Center's poll at PewResearch.org .