Insight

Brits back same sex marriage

Brits back same sex marriage

Two in five (43%) UK adults support the legalisation of same sex marriage, with nearly a quarter (23%) in ?strong? support. However, 32% are opposed.

Breaking our results down by generation we can see that support is more widespread for those in the lower age brackets; UK adults aged 55 and above are well over twice as likely (46%) to oppose the bill as 18-34 year olds (19%).

Those for and against same sex marriage are sharply divided on the nature of marriage. The vast majority (86%) of those opposed say that it breaks the link between marriage and children. Only 20% of same sex marriage supporters agree with this statement and 57% disagree.

Furthermore, 89% of supporters agree with the statement ?Marriage is simply an expression of love between two people? and 92% say that ?If you love someone you should be allowed to marry them whoever they are.?

This compares to just 27% of those opposed agreeing that marriage is just an expression of love. In spite of their opposition to same sex marriage, 10% per cent think that ?If you love someone you should be allowed to marry them whoever they are.?

Opinium Research carried out an online survey of 2,006 UK adults aged 18+ from 7th to 10th of June 2013. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria.