Three out of 10 Latino adults say they consider themselves liberal. Poll: Latinos say they're more liberal

Latinos are more likely than other Americans to say they’re liberal, according to a poll out Wednesday.

Three out of 10 Latino adults say they consider themselves liberal compared to 21 percent of the general U.S. public, the Pew Hispanic Center’s 2011 National Survey of Latinos poll found. And more native-born Hispanics than immigrant Hispanics say they are “very liberal” or “liberal,” 34 percent to 27 percent.


Three out of 10 Latino adults say they consider themselves liberal, compared with 21 percent of the general U.S. public, the Pew Hispanic Center’s 2011 National Survey of Latinos poll found. And more U.S.-born Hispanics than Hispanic immigrants say they are “very liberal” or “liberal,” 34 percent to 27 percent.

Looking at the other end of the spectrum, 32 percent of Hispanics say their political views are “very conservative” or “conservative,” and 34 percent of all U.S. adults say the same. Meanwhile, Latinos born in another country are more likely than those born in the U.S. to describe themselves as conservative, with 35 percent to 28 percent.

On social issues, Hispanics hold more conservative views on abortion than does the general U.S. public, but they share similar opinions on accepting homosexuality in society.

More than half, or 51 percent, of Hispanics told pollsters that abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, compared with 41 percent of the general population. But there is a divide among Hispanics — 58 percent of immigrants say abortion should be illegal, while 40 percent of second-generation and 43 percent of third-generation Hispanics agree.

On the issue of whether homosexuality should be accepted by society, a majority — 59 percent — say that it should. Just 30 percent told pollsters it should be discouraged. Those numbers line up with the general U.S. public, with 58 percent saying homosexuality should be accepted, and 33 percent saying it should be discouraged. Again, there is a slight difference by immigrant generation: 53 percent of immigrant Hispanics say it should be accepted, and it jumps to 68 percent among second-generation Hispanics. Like the general public, more Hispanics who are younger say homosexuality should be accepted, with 69 percent of 18- to-29-year-olds and 60 percent of 30- to-49-year-olds telling pollsters that society should not discourage it.

The poll surveyed 1,220 Latino adults Nov. 9-Dec. 7, 2011. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.59 percentage points.

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