A new American Insights poll on gay marriage shows that the tide has turned on the issue for North Carolina voters — somewhat.
But they don’t want the courts deciding whether legal gay marriage becomes a reality.
Among registered voters there is an even split, at 46 percent, on approval and disapproval of gay marriage.
North Carolina’s ban on gay marriage passed in 2012 by a 61-39 margin — though Pearce Godwin, insights director of American Insights, said overall public opinion at the time was closer to a 55 percent approval of the ban.
“Those opposed to gay marriage and in favor of Amendment One did a better job turning out voters on their side and thus won a victory that exceeded polling,” Godwin said.
The momentum toward favoring gay marriage in North Carolina mirrors the trend nationwide, though not to the same extent. Gallup’s most recent poll found that 55 percent nationally support gay marriage.
Still, voters are firm that the courts should not be the author of gay marriage’s fate in the state — by more than two-to-one, those surveyed said they believe the voting public should have the right to decide on the issue.
Though voters in four states voiced their support for gay marriage through ballot questions in the 2012 election, the most recent activity on marriage bans has been in the courts.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June 2013 that a part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional, sparking a tidal wave of legal challenges by gay marriage advocates. Many of them turned into victories.
Since North Carolina voters were the last in any state to pass a constitutional gay marriage ban, and did so recently, Godwin said, they might be more protective of their ability to vote on the issue themselves.
“This seems to be rooted in voters’ understanding … that they hold the power over public policy in our democratic system,” Godwin said.
A dozen states have legalized gay marriage in the last two years, bringing the total nationwide to 19 plus the District of Columbia.
And there is speculation that the Court will take up a gay marriage case during the 2014-15 term, meaning that there could be a decisive legal verdict on the issue by June 2015.
But despite national support growing for gay marriage and gay rights in general, voters in North Carolina are still divided on the marriage question, and they don't want to relinquish that choice to the courts.
"While sentiment on gay marriage seems to have shifted in North Carolina since 2012, as it has nationally," Godwin said, "our poll makes very clear that voters expect to maintain the power to decide the marriage issue in North Carolina."
state@dailytarheel.com
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