Poll: U.S. split on legal gay marriages

WASHINGTON -- A new poll shows that the nation is passionate, conflicted and narrowly split on same-sex marriage.

Fifty-three percent of 1,000 adults surveyed believe the government should give legal recognition to marriages between couples of the same sex, about the same as last year, according to the nationwide telephone poll by The Associated Press and the National Constitution Center. Forty-four percent were opposed.

People are similarly conflicted over what, if anything, the government should do about the issue. Support for legal recognition of same-sex marriage has shifted from a narrow majority opposed in 2009 to a narrow majority in support now. Some of the shift stems from a generational divide, with the new poll showing a majority of Americans under age 65 in favor of legal recognition for same-sex marriages.

Americans also are conflicted on how to go about legalizing or outlawing gay marriage.

One option is banning gay marriage by constitutional amendment. About half of the poll's respondents, 48 percent, said they would favor such an amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Forty-three percent said they would oppose an amendment.

Most -- 55 percent -- believe the issue should be handled at the state level, however, and opinions on how states should act are split. People are about evenly divided on whether their states should allow same-sex marriages -- 42 percent favor that and 45 percent are opposed -- and tilt in favor of state laws that allow gay couples to form civil unions -- 47 percent in favor, 38 percent opposed and 13 percent neutral, according to the poll. Nearly 6 in 10 (57 percent) in the poll said same-sex couples should be entitled to the same legal benefits as married couples of the opposite sex. Forty percent felt the governmentshould distinguish between them. -- AP