WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization – on Wednesday released a special report analyzing public opinion on LGBT equality. The data clearly shows Americans are supportive of fairness on a wide range of issues affecting the LGBT community.
The special report, titled Polling Shows Americans Support LGBT People On All Issues shows that support for marriage equality has increased in all 50 states, noting that as recently as 2004 same-sex nuptials lacked majority support in any state, and had it in only three states in 2008.
But in 2010, 17 states now favor extending marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples, including Delaware (50 percent), Nevada (50 percent), Maryland (51 percent), Pennsylvania (51 percent), Oregon (52 percent), Colorado (52 percent), Washington (54 percent), Hawaii (54 percent), Maine (55 percent), New Jersey (55 percent), New Hampshire (55 percent), California (56 percent), Connecticut (57 percent), New York (58 percent), Vermont (59 percent) and Rhode Island (60 percent).
“While the American people embrace their LGBT friends and neighbors, government remains a lagging indicator of acceptance,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “The numbers don’t lie. Americans want equal rights for LGBT citizens and lawmakers should heed their call.”
