US: 7% of LGBT people oppose equal marriage
Supporters of same-sex marriage campaign in Australia (Getty)
Seven percent of people who identify as LGBT are opposed to same-sex marriage.
According to data from Pew Research Center, polling showed that 74 percent of LGBT people were strongly in favour of equality, with 18 percent in favour.
However, 7 percent of LGBT people are opposed to same-sex marriage.
These figures contrast with the general population – where 41 percent opposed equal marriage at the time of polling in 2013 – but are still surprising.
Interestingly, bisexuals are almost twice as likely as gay men to oppose same-sex marriage, and four times as likely as lesbians.
Young people are more likely to be in favour – with 82% of under-30s strongly in favour, compared to 71% of over-30s.
96% of LGBT Democrats are strongly in favour, compared to 78% of LGBT Republicans – reflecting the different party lines on the issue.
Aside from marriage, the polling found that LGBT people are fundamentally split on how equality should be achieved.
Nearly half (49%) want to achieve equality while maintaining a distinct LGBT culture, while the same proprtion believe it is reached through becoming part of mainstream institutions.
39 percent agreed that same-sex marriage was taking the focus off of issues that were more important to them.
Same-sex marriage is currently legal in 36 US states, with the US Supreme Court preparing to take up a case that could bring equality to all 50.
