NEW YORK VOTERS BACK GOV ON GAY MARRIAGE,

NEW YORK VOTERS BACK GOV ON GAY MARRIAGE,
QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS;


New York State voters support 53 – 40 percent Gov. David Paterson’s order to state agencies to recognize same-sex marriages performed outside New York, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. But voters say 55 – 30 percent that this issue should have been decided by the State Legislature, not the Governor.
Democrats support the Governor’s gay marriage order 64 – 30 percent, as do independent voters 56 – 37 percent, while Republicans oppose it 57 – 37 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
When New York State voters are given three choices on the gay marriage union:
• 42 percent say same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry;
• 31 percent say these couples should be allowed to form civil unions, but not marry;
• 21 percent say there should be no legal recognition of same-sex unions.
There is a significant gender split, with 48 percent of women and 34 percent of men supporting same-sex marriage. A total of 63 percent of Republicans, 80 percent of Democrats and 75 percent of independent voters support either same-sex marriage or civil unions.
“Who says people have to be consistent? Most New Yorkers think the State Legislature – not Gov. David Paterson – should call the shots on gay marriage. But they approve of Paterson’s order recognizing gay marriages performed elsewhere,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
“On the fundamental issue, a plurality would okay gay marriage. And a big majority would support some form of recognition, either marriage or civil union.”