I simply don't believe it. The article states that 46 percent of Americans
approve of legalizing homosexual marriage. That poll must have been taken in San Francisco. I believe an accurate estimate would be closer to 5 percent if a legitimate cross section of Americans were polled.

Sent by Chuck | 5:12 PM ET | 05-31-2007

Chuck: by a legitimate cross section of Americans, do you mean you and your friends? Because if I polled myself and my friends, I'd come up with a number like 95%. I'm an American too.

Sent by Sasha | 5:45 PM ET | 05-31-2007

Chuck, it's possible that you are, in fact, the one referring to a limited pool of potential voters in this survey -- after all, I'm sure Gallup, as an institution, is careful to consider a wide array of people and has the resources to do so, whereas you, as an individual, are limited merely by the fact that you are one person living in one geographical location. Anyway, I agree with the poll, and would have estimated about as much.

Sent by MJ | 6:06 PM ET | 05-31-2007

Chuck, thanks for your comment. The numbers are quite dramatic, when seen at first glance. But if you look at Gallup's figures, it shows this support has been building gradually over the past decade. It's not just a fluke result.

But I think your partially right about one aspect. It's my guess that the support for gay rights is relatively regional - strong on the two coasts and in the upper midwest. Perhaps the southwest as well. Not as strong in the south and some regions in the Midwest. Gallup did not include this kind of breakdown in its press release, but it's my guess it's there.

And it's also likely that this support will continue to grow, even in many of the areas where it is now weak. The Gallup poll showed that 75 percent of those between the ages of 18 and 34 believe homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle.

Sent by Tom Regan | 8:53 PM ET | 05-31-2007

I remember talking with a staunch Roman Catholic convert (a decent, good man) about gays in the late 1990's. I told him I'd come to realize gays have to be born that way, that it isn't a choice. When he tried to spout the Catholic dogma, I asked, "Can you change YOUR sexuality?" It stumped him. Then he said, "No". So I said, "What makes you think anyone else can? Or should?"

I told him it's not that I agree with every risk-taking thing homosexuals do. It's the arrogant dogma attitude.

I believe we're born with our sexuality - the way we feel, who we're attracted to. Our choice is to act on it, or become like those Catholic celibates - who aren't celibate - with disastrous consequences.

There are positive & negative ways to satisfy any need. Some people tend to be risk-takers, men in particular. But being like that gay preacher who was exposed last year as a closet homosexual with 5 kids at home - no. That's not positive.

Legalizing gay long-term relationships is not the same as legalizing negative relationships. Not all hetero marriages are positive relationships.

Sent by J. Rhinehart | 8:06 AM ET | 06-01-2007

There is no evidence Rhinehart that homosexuals are born gay. I'm struggle with same-sex attraction and i don't believe it is biological but environmental. The APA states there is no gay gene. There have been numerous and quite large studies confirming this. We don't expect to ever find one.

I don't believe that homosexuality is equivalent to heterosexuality. And just because a person doesn't know how to change something doesnt' mean it can't be changed. Our own personal perception of things can blind us to the only way we know. I do believe that sexuality can change. Many people do. I believe as many scientists do that sexuality is ON A CONTINUUM.

Best wishes.

Sent by Jacob | 1:09 PM ET | 06-01-2007

It's time to have a good hard look at the variety of Humans.
Color: We come in albino white to deep black and lot of colors and shades in-between.
Size: really short to really tall!!!
Common Sense: an abundance of to a shocking lack of
Physical Strength: helplessly weak to unbelievably strong
Will Power: see "Physical Strength"
Spelling: Me to that kid who just won the national "Spelling Bee"
The list goes on and on because we are just like everything else on our planet; we come in a "Verity". Sadly that "Verity" also includes tolerance (see "Common Sense"). i.e. "White is the best color" (well, pink really, but defending "Pink" would turn those intolerant of "Black" red). The point is, sexual attraction also comes in a verity, completely "Heterosexual" to completely "Homosexual". In the middle of all of this is Asexual. Now that sounds boring.
There are those who would like us to believe "Verity" was not God's plan. DUH look around!! Would these would be the same folks who believe that their "Verity" of the species is in some way superior to all other "Verities" matthew temple: singer/songwriter, philosopher ..poet

Sent by Matthew Temple | 6:40 AM ET | 06-15-2007