Support for same-sex marriage hits record-high backing

By STEVE KRASKE

March 5, 2014 8:49 AM

shows growing support for same-sex marriage.

The findings:

• Half of all Americans believe that gays have a constitutional right to marry.

• On a similar question, a record-high 59 percent said they support same-sex marriage with 34 percent opposed.

• In the 33 states that prohibit same-sex marriage, 53 percent of those polled said they support allowing it with 40 percent opposed.

• Nearly seven in 10 said businesses should not be allowed to refuse service to gays.

The pollsters found that support for same-sex marriage has changed more rapidly than almost any social issue in the past decade.

This story was originally published March 5, 2014 at 8:49 AM with the headline "Support for same-sex marriage hits record-high backing."