Poll Shows Most Americans Now Support Same-Sex Marriage

Six in ten Americans say the government should not regulate whether gays and lesbians can wed the persons they choose, a new survey finds. As same-sex couples start lining up to get marriage licenses in California on June 17, the USA TODAY/Gallup Poll found 63 percent of adults say same-sex marriage is "strictly a private decision" between two people. That the government has the right "to prohibit or allow" such marriages was stated by 33 percent, and 4 percent had no opinion.

A majority of respondents at every level of education and income say same-sex marriage is "strictly private." This was true:

• In every region: East (71 percent), West (64 percent), Midwest (63 percent) and South (56 percent).

• Among all age except "65 and older": 18 to 29 (79 percent), 30 to 49 (65 percent), 50 to 64 percent (62 percent) and 65 and older (44 percent).

• Among people who also say they have a favorable view of any of the three leading presidential candidates. For those holding favorable views for John McCain, 55 percent say marriage is a private decision; for Barack Obama, 75 percent say so; and for Hillary Clinton, 69 percent do. All three oppose same-sex marriage. Both Democrats both favor civil unions.

• Among people who say a relative, friend or co-worker personally has told them he or she was gay or lesbian (73 percent).

The strongest support for government regulation of same-sex marriage came from people who say they:

• Attend religious services weekly (56 percent).

• Are Republicans (56 percent).

• Are politically conservative (54 percent).