3rd NJ Poll Favors Civil Unions Over Marriage.

3rd NJ Poll Favors Civil Unions Over Marriage

by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
November 8, 2006 - 3:00 pm ET

(Trenton, New Jersey) For the third time in a week a public opinion poll has found a majority of people in New Jersey support civil unions for same-sex couples, with all of the rights of marriage, but not marriage itself.
The Quinnipiac University Poll released Wednesday shows 56 percent in favor of equal rights for same-sex couples but when asked about the word marriage people preferred civil unions 51 to 29 percent. Twenty-one percent of those polled were undecided.
The New Jersey Supreme Court last month ruled same-sex couples must have all the rights of marriage.
The Court gave the New Jersey State Legislature 180 days to act on the decision to grant same-sex couples the rights and benefits enjoyed by different-sex married couples but left it up to the legislators to decide whether to call it marriage or civil unions. (story)
Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D) has said he'll press ahead with marriage legislation.
The leadership in the Legislature and Gov. Jon Corzine (D) have said they favor civil unions, but have indicated they are in no rush to proceed with legislation despite the time limit imposed by the court. (story)
The Quinnipiac survey asked people if they thought the legislature should enact a marriage law for same-sex couples found 50 per cent were opposed. Forty-one percent were in favor.
The poll also found that support for gays and lesbian couples marrying varied with age.
Slightly more than three out of five people between the ages of 18 and 34 supported same-sex marriage. Among voters over 65 support was only one in five.
Support also was higher among wealthier more educated voters. About half of those from households with incomes over $100,000 supported marriage.
Polls by Rutgers-Eagleton and Blum & Wesprin Associates showed similar results