Attitudes toward gay marriage in states undergoing marriage law transformation

    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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