This post has been updated.
More than a quarter of Americans who identify as proponents of same-sex marriage said their position on the issue has changed while most opponents have always been against gay nuptials, according to findings released Wednesday by Pew Research Center.
According to Pew, 28 percent of gay marriage supporters — comprising 14 percent of the overall American public — said their views on the matter have changed. About a third of those respondents said they changed positions because they know someone who is homosexual, while 25 percent said their views have shifted as they’ve gotten older and thought about the issue more.
Conversely, “virtually everyone” against same-sex marriage said they have always been opposed. Overall, Pew found that a plurality of 49 percent of Americans believe gays and lesbians should be allowed to marry legally. Compare that to 2003, when Pew found nearly 60 percent of Americans opposed to gay marriage.
It’s the third poll this week to show mounting evidence of the rapidly evolving attitudes on the issue. An ABC News/Washington Post poll found a new high of 58 percent of American adults supporting same-sex marriage, while a CNN poll showed a majority of 53 percent in favor.
The PollTracker Average provides a picture of this nationwide transformation.
