What's Marriage (and Family) Got to Do with It? Support for Same-Sex Marriage, Legal Unions, and Gay and Lesbian Couples Raising Children

Abstract

Objectives: The current study extends research on public opinion toward gay civil rights by considering the impact of marital and family status and views on the purpose of marriage on support for same-sex marriage, legal unions, and gay and lesbian couples raising children. Methods: Data from the 2007 Pew Research Center's Social Trends Report were analyzed using hierarchical ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. Models exploring both direct and interactive effects were constructed. Results: The results suggest that marital and family status play a role in influencing issue attitudes and that views on the purpose of marriage moderate the influence of conservative ideological and religious value predispositions on support for same-sex marriage, legal unions, and gay and lesbian couples raising children. Conclusions: Implications of the findings and the changing demographics of marriage and family are discussed. © 2012 by the Southwestern Social Science Association.