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Americans Move Dramatically to Acceptance of Homosexuality

Although sharply divided, public attitudes toward gays and lesbians are rapidly changing to reflect greater acceptance, with younger generations leading the way, research by NORC at the University of Chicago shows.

In addition to a plurality who now approve of same-sex marriage, Americans overwhelmingly support basic civil liberties and freedom of expression for gays and lesbians, in contrast to sharp division on such issues in the 1970s. Taken together, the results show a clear “trend toward greater tolerance regarding homosexuality,” says Tom W. Smith, director of the General Social Survey at NORC and author of the NORC report, “Public Attitudes toward Homosexuality.”

The rise in support for same-sex marriage has been especially dramatic over the last two decades. It went from 11% approval in 1988 to 46% in 2010, compared with 40% who were opposed, producing a narrow plurality in favor for the first time. The report is based on findings of the latest General Social Survey (GSS), conducted in 2010 with a cross sample of more than 2,000 people.

“There is a large generation gap on the issue [of same-sex marriage],” Smith says. While 64% of those under 30 back same-sex marriage, only 27% of those 70 and older support it.

Acceptance of homosexuality in general also reflects the generational difference in opinion. In 2010, 26% of the people surveyed who were under 30 said they felt same-sex behavior is “always wrong,” while 63% of the people aged 70 and older held that opinion.

As a result of the generational division, public attitudes are sharply divided on the issue. Although 44% of the people surveyed felt that sexual relations between two adults of the same sex is always wrong, another 41% thought such relations were “not wrong at all.”
“Just 11% were in the middle, saying it was either ‘almost always wrong’ or ‘wrong only sometimes.’ Public opinion is thus highly polarized on this issue, with few people sharing the middle ground,” Smith says.

The GSS, which has been conducted biennially for 40 years, showed a marked increase in support of many civil liberties for gays and lesbians. Support for a gay person's right to speak before a public audience increased from 62% in 1972 to 86% in 2010; support for allowing gays and lesbians to teach at colleges or universities rose from 48% in 1973 to 84% in 2010; and approval for having a library keep a book that favors homosexuality rose from 54% in 1973 to 78% in 2010.

The change toward acceptance of homosexuality began in the late 1980s after years of remaining relatively constant. In 1973, 70% of people felt same-sex relations are “always wrong,” and in 1987, 75% held that view. By 2000, however, that number dropped to 54% and by 2010 was down to 43.5%.

— Source: University of Chicago