Patrick Semansky/AP - Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley speaks in support of a same-sex marriage bill during a news conference in Annapolis on Jan. 24.
“We’re allowed tax benefits, things like that, and it’s a nice seal of approval — you know, these guys are a couple,” he said. “I feel everyone else should be treated the same way. There’s no reason not to do that.”
Overall, support for same-sex marriage in Maryland has grown steadily since 2004, when a Post poll found only 35 percent in favor, with 58 percent opposed.
Half of Marylanders favor a law allowing same sex marriage, moving up over the past decade.
Last year, only one Republican in the General Assembly voiced support for the bill, and O’Malley is largely targeting Democrats to pick up additional votes this year.
Among Democrats in Maryland, support has grown more rapidly among whites than blacks. During the past five years, support among whites has edged up, while support among blacks has been flat.
In interviews with poll respondents, several African American Democrats who said they generally support O’Malley said they cannot stand with him on gay unions.
“I try to live by the Bible,” said Charles Brown, 56, a truck driver from Salisbury. “God did not create man so Steve would turn out to be Eve, or Eve would turn out to be Steve.”
Even some respondents who said they have friends who are gay or lesbian said they do not believe they should be allowed to marry.
“It’s mostly a religious thing,” said Margaret Turner, 34, a Silver Spring resident who is a manager at a McDonald’s restaurant.
Turner said she “might eventually” change her views on the issues, but she said she’s not there yet.
Same-sex marriage is one issue this legislative session on which public sentiment could mean more than most. Advocates on both sides of the issue expect that if a bill passes, opponents will make use of a provision in the Maryland Constitution that allows residents to petition just-passed laws to the ballot.
The Post poll also found several other demographic differences when it comes to support of same-sex marriage among Marylanders.
Those at higher income levels are more likely to be supportive, as are those with more education. Support is more than double among those who identify themselves as “liberal” as those who call themselves “conservative.”
And support differs considerably by region. In Democratic-leaning Montgomery County, 62 percent say they support same-sex marriage, while 28 percent do not. In Prince George’s County, 36 percent are supportive, while 59 percent are opposed.
The poll was conducted by telephone Jan. 23-26 among a random sample of 1,064 Maryland adults. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
Polling director Jon Cohen and polling analyst Scott Clement contributed to this report.
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