Title

Attitudes toward gay marriage in states undergoing marriage law transformation

Authors

Authors

S. M. Brumbaugh; L. A. Sanchez; S. L. Nock;J. D. Wright

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

J. Marriage Fam.

Keywords

family diversity; family policy; gay; lesbian; bisexual; transgender; marriage; religiosity; sexual attitudes; RELIGIOUS ORIENTATION; UNITED-STATES; HOMOSEXUALITY; AMERICAN; LESBIANS; FUNDAMENTALISM; RIGHTS; SEX; MEN; LIBERALIZATION; Family Studies; Sociology

Abstract

This study examines attitudes toward gay marriage within the context of concern over the weakening of heterosexual marriage. We use data from a three-state survey conducted in 1998-2000 and designed to explore attitudes toward marriage and divorce reform (N = 976). We find that women, Whites, and younger persons are more approving of gay marriage than men, Blacks, and older persons. Nonparents with cohabitation experience are most approving, whereas parents with no cohabitation experience are most opposed. Heterosexual marriage preservation attitudes are key predictors, net of religiosity and political conservativism. We interpret these findings with theories about vested interest in upholding marriage as an institution and ambivalence resulting from conflicting core values of the sanctity of marriage versus the valorization of individualism.

Journal Title

Journal of Marriage and Family

Volume

70

Issue/Number

2

Publication Date

1-1-2008

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

345

Last Page

359

WOS Identifier

WOS:000254791400008

ISSN

0022-2445

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