How will Texans react to a federal judge’s declaration that the state’s gay-marriage ban is unconstitutional? The Public Religion Research Institute’s latest report on changing American attitudes towards gays and lesbians offers these clues:
- Texans are evenly divided on the issue of same-sex marriage: 48% in favor vs. 49% opposed.
- 56% of Texans believe same-sex marriage should be decided at the state level, 37% at the national level.
- 63% of Texans say gay and lesbian people face a lot of discrimination in the U.S. today, vs. 32% who disagree.
- More than two-thirds of Texans favor laws to protect gay and lesbian people against job discrimination; 30% oppose.
- 65% of Texans have a close friend or family member who is gay or lesbian, a figure that is identical to Americans overall.
- 32% believe sex between two adults of the same gender is morally acceptable, while 63% say it is morally wrong.
The PRRI survey — one of the largest ever conducted on LGBT issues — polled 4,500 people, including 300 Texas residents.
(Williams Institute map)