Pew Research Center reports, data and interactive features on gay marriage and homosexuality, including public opinion, changing legal status and religious groups’ views.
Featured Publications
Slideshow: Changing Attitudes on Gay Marriage
In 2001, Americans opposed same-sex marriage by a 57% to 35% margin. Today, there is more support for same-sex marriage than opposition to it. Combined data from two 2013 polls show 50% of Americans in favor and 43% opposed.
Same-Sex Marriage State-by-State
To date, courts, legislatures and voters have legalized gay marriage in 37 states and the District of Columbia, while 13 states have constitutional amendments banning gay marriage. This interactive shows the change in each state’s policy over time.
Gay Marriage Around the World
On Feb. 12, the French National Assembly is expected to pass a measure legalizing same-sex marriage. Although the bill still needs to win the approval of the French Senate and be signed by the president, it is expected to become law as soon as May 2013.
Where Christian churches, other religions stand on gay marriage
In the last two decades, several religious groups have moved to allow same-sex couples to marry within their traditions.
Both Sides See Gay Marriage as ’Inevitable’
As support for gay marriage continues to increase, nearly three-quarters of Americans say that legal recognition of same-sex marriage is inevitable, including majorities on both sides of the issue.
Global Views on Morality
The Pew Research Center’s 2013 Global Attitudes survey asked 40,117 respondents in 40 countries what they thought about eight topics often discussed as moral issues. Use this interactive to explore the median responses for each question across the 40 countries.
All Publications from this Topic
Most Americans now say learning their child is gay wouldn’t upset them
Today nearly six-in-ten (57%) say they would not be upset if they had a child come out as gay or lesbian, according to our survey conducted in May.
How the Supreme Court’s decision for gay marriage could affect religious institutions
Some legal scholars and others are trying to determine how a ruling granting same-sex couples a constitutional right to wed might affect religious institutions.
5 facts about same-sex marriage
There has been a dramatic shift in recent years in Americans’ attitudes about gay marriage, with support rising to 57% in May 2015.
Half of unmarried LGBT Americans say they would like to wed
Public support for same-sex marriage has surged: 57% of Americans favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally, up from 36% in 2005 and 27% in 1996.
Same-sex marriage makes some legal gains in Latin America
While laws allowing same-sex marriage have become more common in European countries and in U.S. states, gay marriage advocates also have gained ground in some parts of Latin America. Most recently, the Mexican Supreme Court issued a ruling making it much easier for gay and lesbian couples to wed.
How many same-sex married couples in the U.S.? Maybe 170,000
A new research paper suggests that the number of married same-sex couples in the United States in 2013 may have been much lower than the Census Bureau’s initial estimate for that year.
Where Europe stands on gay marriage and civil unions
Ireland is the 14th European nation to change its laws to allow gay and lesbian couples to wed.
Record Support for Same-Sex Marriage
Public support for allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally continues its rapid rise: A 57% majority of Americans now favor allowing same-sex marriage, up from 42% just five years ago.
Lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans differ from general public in their religious affiliations
A majority of LGB adults are religiously affiliated, but they are much less likely to be Christian than the general public and are more drawn to smaller, non-Christian denominations.
Among transgender adults, stories about a ‘difficult’ transition
For many, being transgender is a core part of their overall identity, even if they may not widely share this fact about themselves with many people in their lives.
