PRINCETON, N.J., Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Most Americans say same-sex couples should have inheritance rights, health insurance and be allowed to adopt, a poll released Monday indicated.
Results of the Gallup-USA Today poll indicated slightly more Americans favor inheritance rights, employee benefits and adoption rights now than in May 2009, the last time the Princeton, N.J., polling agency surveyed the topic.
However, a separate question in the latest poll found a slight majority of Americans said they support official Boy Scouts of America policy of excluding openly gay people from being Boy Scout leaders. The policy has become controversial in recent years, prompting some corporate sponsors to withdraw support for the Scouts.
Broken down by party, Republicans said they were less in favor of inheritance rights, adoption rights, and health insurance and other benefits, than independents or Democrats. Republicans also indicated they were less supportive of allowing openly gay Boy Scout leaders to serve.
Still, a majority of all groups by party support inheritance rights and employee benefits for same-sex spouses and partners, results indicated, but slightly less than half of Republicans said they support adoption rights.
Support was below the majority level among Republicans and independents for allowing openly gay adults to serve as Boy Scout leaders.
Results are based on nationwide telephone interviews with 1,015 adults conducted Nov. 26-29. The margin of error is 4 percentage points.
