Creative Writing Essay: Same-Sex Marriage

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Same-Sex Marriage
The issue of same-sex marriage continues to be a divisive issue within American society. Over the decades, many groups ranging from political parties, religious organizations, and civil movements have had varying views about the legalization of same-sex marriages. Several polls conducted since the 1990s show that Americans continue to be divided on the issue based on specific parameters. This paper examines three polls done during specific years in three different decades that show the state of public opinion regarding the matter.
In the mid-1990s, fewer Americans were in support of the legalization of same-sex marriage. A significant percentage viewed same-sex marriage as harmful to society. Several national polling firms conducted polls on this subject. A notable one was the 1996 Gallup poll, which used telephone landline interviews to gauge public opinion. The sample size covered over 1000 adults who were above 18 years. A random sampling of telephone numbers was used to prevent selection bias during the survey with the participants drawn from all the US states. During the polls, the main question was whether the respondents thought same-sex marriage should gain legal recognition similar to traditional weddings (Gallup). They were to answer whether such a marriage would be valid or invalid. The poll findings showed that a majority of Americans were against legalizing gay marriages, with only 27% supporting it. This is in stark contrast with about 68% opposing legalization. The major US subgroups such as moderates, conservatives, and republicans strongly opposed same-sex marriage in this 1996 poll. The poll also revealed that more young adults supported homosexuality than older adults aged 50 and above (Gallup). The hostility towards same-sex marriage was further illustrated with the signing of the Defense of Marriage Act by Bill Clinton, which refused to grant gay marriage federal recognition.
In 2008-2009, a poll by Pew Research Center about same-sex marriage demonstrated a change in attitude during the 2000s decade. Over 6000 people participated in the survey, which was set to determine people's attitudes towards gay marriages. The survey was conducted using landline telephone interviews and cellphone interviews. The findings revealed that about 42 % of Americans supported gay marriages than about 48 % who opposed it. This increase in support illustrated a shift in attitude concerning the 1990s decade. The wording of the Pew Research question was crafted to cover various aspects of the respondents ranging from religion,...