TUCSON, Ariz. – Public opinion on gay marriage is shifting and the state of Arizona is a good example of this shift. In 2008 the state’s voters passed a gay marriage ban by a 56-44 margin. Now according to Public Policy Polling (PPP) they’re almost evenly divided on the issue with only 45 percent of voters in the state saying they think it should be illegal and 44 percent thinking it should be legal. Highlighting age trends PPP revealed that 48 percent of seniors think gay marriage should not be allowed, while only 39 percent think it should be. But among voters under 30, 57 percent think it should be legal to only 25 percent who think it should be illegal. PPP forecast that if these trends continue voters in the state would pass a proposition to legalize gay marriage within five years.
In 2006 Arizonans voted down a proposed ban that would also have targeted civil unions with 72 percent of voters, including even 59 percent of Republicans, supporting some type of legal recognition for same-sex couples either in the form of full marriage rights or civil unions. Just 27 percent are totally opposed to any kind of recognition.
