Rhode Islanders support gay marriage

PROVIDENCE, R.I., May 28 (UPI) -- A majority of Rhode Island voters would support legal gay marriage and an overwhelming majority support same-sex civil unions, a new poll indicates.

Marion Orr, head of the John Hazen White Public Opinion Laboratory at Brown University, surveyed 593 registered voters, the university said Thursday in a release.

Sixty percent of those polled said they would support legislation legalizing same-sex marriage, 31 percent were opposed and 9 percent were unsure. Three-quarters would support civil unions and only 17 percent were opposed.

Rhode Island is the only New England state with no legal recognition of same-sex relationships, although a bill has been introduced allowing gay marriage. Civil unions are legal in New Hampshire, while same-sex marriages are legal in the other four states.

Young people, aged 18 to 29, were in favor of gay marriage by 87 percent, while less than half of those 60 or older favored it. While 77 percent of Democrats favor gay marriage, only 28 percent of Republicans do.

Attitudes towards civil unions were also affected by age and political leaning, but a majority of respondents supported them in all age groups as did 55 percent of Republicans.