The 2003 ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court allowing gay marriage in that commonwealth triggered a broad national debate over gay marriage and civil unions. The American religious community remains deeply divided over issues such as a federal constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, the ordination of gay clergy and related topics.
The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life provides a variety of resources that probe the relationship between religion and public policy on gay marriage and related issues, including reports, polling data, transcripts of its events and the latest news compiled from media nationwide.
The forum’s polling shows that religious affiliation is a factor in opposition to gay marriage. Of course, public attitudes vary state by state; the project offers a resource page that tracks current laws and proposals to change marriage laws in the states. The project delivers timely, impartial information to national, state and local opinion leaders, including government officials and journalists.
The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life does not take positions in policy debates. It is a project of the Pew Research Center, a Pew subsidiary and a nonpartisan “fact tank” in Washington, D.C., that provides information on the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world.
For more information on the gay marriage debate, visit the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life Web site.
Oct 09, 2009 - A new report finds that a clear majority of Americans favor allowing civil unions for gay and lesbian couples. Over the past year, support for civil unions has grown significantly among those who oppose same-sex marriage while remaining stable among those who favor same-sex marriage. At the same time, opponents of same-sex marriage continue to outnumber supporters overall.
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Jul 10, 2009 - This report gives an overview of the gay marriage debate in America, analyzes the constitutional dimensions of the debate and looks at public opinion trends on gay marriage and civil unions.
Jul 09, 2009 - A breakdown of 15 major religious groups' views on gay marriage and the ordination of gay clergy.
Jul 09, 2009 - A suit alleging that California's Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution was recently filed in a federal district court, giving the nation's high court a potential opportunity to determine whether the U.S Constitution guarantees the right of gay and lesbian couples to wed.
Jul 09, 2009 - As with many other social issues, opinions about same-sex marriage are closely linked with political affiliation.
Nov 13, 2008 - A Pew Forum graphic shows that in the five years since Massachusetts became the first state to allow gay marriage, more than half the nation's states have amended their constitutions to ban the practice.
Jun 12, 2008 - The Pew Research Center finds that overall opposition to same-sex marriages has declined somewhat, but the issue has regained importance among some conservative groups.
Apr 01, 2008 - Report finds that, as with many other social issues, opinions about same-sex marriage are closely linked with partisanship, ideology and religion.
Apr 01, 2008 - Report gives an overview of the gay marriage debate in America, analyzes the constitutional dimensions of the debate and looks at public opinion trends on gay marriage and civil unions.
Apr 01, 2008 - On March 4, 2008, the California Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case challenging the constitutionality of the state's laws prohibiting gay marriage. California is not alone in grappling with the contentious issue of whether to grant gay and lesbian couples the right to wed. For more than 15 years, state courts have considered and ruled on this question based on their understanding of prior rulings on privacy rights and related constitutional issues.
Mar 27, 2008 - When Pope Benedict XVI arrives in the U.S. on April 15, 2008, he will be greeted by a flock that is undergoing rapid ethnic and demographic changes.
Dec 18, 2007 - The combination of widespread religious commitment and leadership in science and technology greatly enlarges the potential for conflict between faith and science in the United States.
Jul 11, 2007 - The legal definition of marriage is in flux, particularly in the developed world, as governments re-examine what long seemed to be a well-established aspect of civil law.
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