This is an article first published last year, and written by John Micek of the Morning Call. Published here with permission.

Have attitudes changed here about same-sex marriage?

Explain It to me!

May 06, 2009| By John Micek Of The Morning Call

Q. Are attitudes changing about same-sex marriage? The hot-button issue that was once front and center in the Culture Wars recently has been in the headlines. Iowa and New Hampshire have sanctioned same-sex unions, and legislation is moving in New York and Maine. How do people feel about that now?

A: Pennsylvania law bans same-sex marriage, and foes have made repeated attempts to pass a constitutional amendment outlawing gay marriage.

But a recent Morning Call/Muhlenberg College poll shows that public attitudes statewide are softening on the controversial issue.

Fifty one percent of Pennsylvania residents oppose granting same-sex couples who marry the same rights as traditional marriages, down from 54 percent in a 2004 Morning Call/Muhlenberg College poll.

More people today (42 percent) say gay marriage should be recognized, up from 35 percent who said that in 2004.

Similarly, public support for civil unions has increased from 54 percent five years ago to 61 percent in 2009.

“In many ways, gay rights issues remain highly polarizing in Pennsylvania,” Muhlenberg pollster Christopher Borick said. “But, when you look over time, you see a gradual acceptance of both civil unions and gay marriage.”

Residents remain divided on whether to amend the state Constitution to outlaw gay and lesbian marriage. Forty-five percent oppose such an amendment, 44 percent support it, a statistically insignificant difference.

Despite the ambiguity, Pennsylvanians are united on one thing: Same-sex marriage isn’t a campaign issue. Six in 10 respondents said a candidate’s stance on the issue would not determine whether they support the candidate, compared to 34 percent who said it did.

The Morning Call/Muhlenberg canvass of 446 adults was conducted from March 9 to March 31. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.5 percentage points.

— John L. Micek, Call Harrisburg Bureau