In recent years, the United States seemed to be moving steadily toward a shared view on same-sex marriage. Yet, a decade after the Supreme Court ruled to grant the constitutional right to same-sex marriage, the divide between Republican and Democratic attitudes on this matter has grown wider than ever.
Recent Gallup polling highlights that American support for same-sex marriage has actually risen since 2015. Current data from Gallup, however, reveals a significant 47-percentage-point gap between Republican and Democratic support, the largest since Gallup began monitoring such opinions 29 years ago. This chasm stems considerably from a notable decline in Republican backing since 2023.
Over the years, the position on same-sex marriage has transformed from a minority view to one of widespread acceptance, suggesting potential shifts in future perspectives. Historically, same-sex marriage was largely unpopular. Back in 1988, a General Social Survey showed that only around 10% of U.S. adults “strongly agreed” or “agreed” with granting gay couples the right to marry, with about 70% disagreeing, encompassing both Democrats and Republicans equally.
The 1990s saw politics around same-sex marriage begin to change. Gallup data from 1996, the year the Defense of Marriage Act was introduced, showed that 27% of U.S. adults believed same-sex marriages should be legally recognized—an opinion more common among Democrats compared to Republicans.
Fast forward to 2004, when state-level legalizations started with Massachusetts. President George W. Bush sought a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, while Democratic presidential hopefuls wanted it settled by the states. Back then, public support was growing but still limited, with approximately 40% of Americans backing same-sex marriage. However, about half of all Democrats supported it, in contrast to only 22% of Republicans.
Over the years, Democrats and independents have driven support for same-sex marriage. Since 2006, around half of Democrats consistently showed support, and by 2012, a majority of independents shared this stance. By the time of the 2015 court ruling, three-quarters of Democrats were supportive, compared to one-third of Republicans.
From 2010 to 2020, Republicans exhibited a slight increase in support for same-sex marriage. Although Democrats spearheaded the acceptance trend, Republican support gradually rose, suggesting a broader move towards acknowledging same-sex unions across political lines.
However, Republican support has dwindled in recent years. Gallup’s latest data shows that around 70% of Americans believe same-sex marriages should be legally valid, corroborated by similar findings from the General Social Survey. Nonetheless, Republican support has declined over the past three years, with about 40% now in favor, a drop from the 55% peak seen between 2021 and 2022. This recent decline mirrors Republicans’ 2016 stance, where 40% supported legal recognition.
A generational divide marks Republican views on the issue. Younger Republicans display greater acceptance of same-sex marriage than older ones, with about 60% of those under 50 supporting legal recognition, compared to only 36% of those over 50. Younger Americans overall show more acceptance, with 80% of those under 35 supporting same-sex marriage, illustrating a possible evolution in future political stances.
This shift indicates a generational divide within the Republican party, hinting that as younger members age, the opposition to same-sex marriage may diminish. The younger generation’s more liberal views on this issue suggest potential future changes in party-wide perspectives.