A poll comparing the opinions of California voters today and in 1977 found that Republicans are 7 percent more opposed to same-sex marriage than they were 32 years ago.
“As the demographic profile of the state’s voters has changed, so too have voter opinions on a number of important social issues. Republicans, on the other hand, have not changed their views on this issue, and if anything, are now more opposed than they were thirty years ago. A nearly three to one majority of Republicans (68% to 23%) currently opposes allowing same-sex marriage in California. This is marginally greater than their 65% to 30% opposition found in a 1977 Field Poll,” the poll reported.
1977 was significant because it was the year Harvey Milk campaigned against the initiative to fire gay teaches and Miami voters rejected a gay rights protection ordinance. Yet voters in 1977 had more support for gay marriage than today, according to the study.
