SALT LAKE CITY — A new poll finds Utahns are dropping their opposition to same-sex marriage.
The poll conducted by UtahPolicy.com finds 52% of Utahns say they oppose same-sex marriage, down from 58% last year. The number of those who “strongly oppose” same-sex marriage dropped dramatically, the website said, from 50% in July 2015 to 39% now.
UtahPolicy.com said the largest decrease came from Republicans and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
From the poll:
UtahPolicy.com’s survey found 72% of Republicans said they are opposed, down from 84% in 2015. Among Mormons, 74% who described themselves as “very active” in their faith said they’re opposed, including 55% who are “strongly opposed.” That’s down from 85% in July 2015 and 73% who were “vehemently opposed.”
The numbers also declined for Mormons who described themselves as “somewhat active.” Now, 49% said they are opposed to same-sex marriage, with 43% in favor. A year ago, 53% were against same-sex marriage and only 38% were in favor.
The LDS Church has long been opposed to same-sex marriage.
A modified version of the state flag is shown at a rally celebrating the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage.
Utah was the first red state to see its ban on gay and lesbian unions fall after the U.S. Supreme Court declared portions of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. A federal judge ruled in favor of three same-sex couples in Kitchen v. Herbert, clearing the way for same-sex couples to wed beginning in 2013. The state fought the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, which declined to hear the case, but ruled in another case in 2015 making same-sex marriage legal nationwide.
