It's the highest level of support witnessed by Gallup since they began asking the question in 1996. Gallup: Support for same-sex marriage at all-time high

Support for same-sex marriage has reached a record high, according to a Gallup tracking poll released Tuesday.

Sixty percent of Americans now support legally recognized same-sex marriages that carry the same rights as traditional marriages, compared with 37 percent who believe such marriages should not be considered valid.


This is the highest level of support witnessed by Gallup since the organization began asking the question in 1996. Back then, 27 percent of Americans supported same-sex marriage. In the past year alone, the level of support has risen by five points to its current high.

Gallup found support among Democrats at 76 percent, among Independents at 64 percent and among Republicans at 37 percent. All three figures were record highs.

The poll further found that more respondents than at any point in the last decade believe a candidate must share their views on same-sex marriage for him or her to earn their vote — 26 percent said it’s a requirement, 43 percent said it is one of many important factors, and 26 percent said it’s not a major issue.

The result comes after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in April on the constitutionality of same-sex marriage bans in various states across the country. A decision is expected to be released in June.

In the meantime, same-sex marriage has also been a flashpoint on the campaign trail.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who has not yet formally announced his candidacy, doubled down on his opposition to same-sex marriage in an appearance on the Christian Broadcasting Network Sunday, reiterating his belief that marriage should be left to the states and his personal opposition to same-sex marriage.

“We need to be stalwart supporters of traditional marriage,” he said in the interview.

On the other side of the aisle, Hillary Clinton, who previously opposed same-sex marriage, has made her current support for the practice a centerpiece of her campaign. On her Twitter account and in speeches she frequently uses the phrase “marriage equality.”