Recent polling data reveals a decline in American support for same-sex marriage, challenging the consistent supermajority seen in previous years. The latest survey results indicate a shift in public opinion, sparking discussions about the reasons behind this change.
The Economist/YouGov survey, conducted from July 25-27 with 1,559 U.S. adults, indicates a 54% approval for the legality of same-sex marriage, while 32% oppose it and 13% remain unsure. The poll carries a margin of error of ±3.3 percentage points and covers a variety of topics, including attitudes towards same-sex marriage.
Same-sex marriage has been recognized nationwide since the 2015 Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which invalidated state bans. More recently, the Respect for Marriage Act, signed by President Joe Biden in 2022, further reinforced this decision at the federal level.
Though the 54% support suggests a majority, it is notably lower than figures reported in other contemporary studies. For instance, a poll by the Public Religion Research Institute earlier this year found a 65% approval, down from 69% in 2022.
The Gallup poll from June also recorded a 65% support rate, showing a decline from the previous high of 71% in 2022 and 2023. Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, commented on these trends in an op-ed, suggesting that the initial promise of “marriage equality” has not been fulfilled as expected.
Perkins attributes the drop in support to various societal developments, including public pride events, corporate pressures to endorse diverse sexual identities, and the growing surrogacy industry. He also cited gender transitions in youths and the inclusion of trans-identifying males in women’s sports as contributing factors to the shift in public sentiment.
In his words, “Once marriage is detached from the complementary union of man and woman, it becomes increasingly difficult to explain why mothers and fathers matter, why men and women are different, or why children have a right to both.”
The Economist/YouGov surveys have consistently reported lower support in comparison to other polls, with figures ranging from 51% to 55% in various months, such as May 2026, March, January, and December 2025.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
