[1]NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–As it turns out, American teenagers may not be as supportive of “gay marriage” as previously thought.
A new Gallup survey shows that teenagers ages 13-17 are almost evenly split on the issue of “gay marriage” — 51 percent supporting it, 49 percent opposing it. That runs counter to the common perception that younger people overwhelmingly support “marriage” for homosexuals and older people oppose it. The Gallup question asked teens: “Do you approve or disapprove of marriage between gay couples?”
Most polls show that at least 60 percent of all Americans oppose “gay marriage.”
Male teens are split evenly at 50 percent each on the issue of “gay marriage.” Female teens are slightly in favor of redefining marriage, with 52 percent supporting it and 48 percent opposing it.
The poll also found that:
— 55 percent of teens support civil unions, 45 percent oppose them. The question that was posed asked if teens favored or opposed “a law that would allow same sex couples to legally form civil unions, giving them some of the legal rights of married couples.”
[2]— 59 percent of teens believe “being gay is due to outside factors, such as upbringing and environment.” Forty-one percent believe “being gay is something a person is born with.”
“These are fairly conservative responses,” Gallup’s Frank Newport wrote in an online analysis. “Almost six out of 10 teenagers believe that being gay is ‘nurture’ rather than ‘nature,’ a position at odds with some gay and lesbian activists.”
The Gallup poll of 546 teenagers was conducted in December and January and is based on a random sample of mail and Internet surveys.
JOHN ADAMS’ CHURCH GETS BANNER — A historic Quincy, Mass., church that was home to Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams soon will hang a large banner outside supportive of “gay marriage.” Although the city’s historic district commission voted Feb. 27 against a permit that would have allowed the banner, the Quincy Zoning Board reversed that ruling March 7, the homosexual news service 365gay reported.
The 34-by-4-foot sign reads: “People of Faith for Marriage Equality.” The church, which is Unitarian Universalist, sits within the National Park Service’s Adams National Historical Park. The banner will be up no more than a month or two. The remains of both former presidents are contained in crypts at the church.
Massachusetts remains the only state with legalized “gay marriage,” courtesy of a 2003 ruling by the state’s highest court.
NO RULING BY WASHINGTON COURT — March 9 passed without the Washington state Supreme Court issuing its much-anticipated “gay marriage” ruling. The court’s chief justice, Gerry Alexander, told reporters Jan. 11 that the nine-member court hoped to hand down its decision before the Washington state legislature adjourned. Adjournment was scheduled for March 9, although the legislature wrapped up a day earlier.
Conservative lawyers have speculated that the court is experiencing internal divisions. Oral arguments in the case were heard one year ago on March 8, 2005.
“It is highly unusual to see any court take a year or more to render a decision in a case,” Bruce Hausknecht, judicial analyst for Focus on the Family, told CitizenLink. “You would expect a certain amount of delay in controversial cases, which may cause various justices to write separate opinions to either concur with, or dissent from, the majority holding. But this situation goes far beyond such a delay.”
A pro-“gay marriage” ruling would make Washington the second state to redefine marriage.
CONSERVATIVE JEWS POSTPONE VOTE — A committee that interprets Jewish law for Conservative Judaism postponed a vote March 8 that could have OK’d the blessing of homosexual unions and the ordination of homosexuals. The panel, the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, said it would consider the proposals again in December, the Associated Press reported.
Conservative Jews make up about 33 percent of American Jews and are considered more liberal than Orthodox Jews but more conservative than Reform Jews. Only Reform Judaism has more members. Just 14 years ago, in 1992, the same committee said in a 19-3 vote that Jewish law prohibits same-sex unions and openly homosexual people from serving as rabbis. But the committee’s decisions are not binding, and some rabbis ignored the bans, The New York Times reported.
“This is a very difficult moment for the movement,” Rabbi Joel H. Meyers told The Times.
–30–
For more information about the national debate over “gay marriage,” visit http://www.bpnews.net/samesexmarriage [3]