Poll: Majorities in 44 states approve of same-sex marriage

Majorities of voters in 44 states now approve of same-sex marriage, according to a new poll, a substantial increase since the practice was made legal nationwide in 2015. 

More than six in 10 respondents support gay marriage, according to the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) survey released Tuesday, twice as many as are opposed, at 30 percent.

{mosads}Sixty-three percent of whites, 52 percent of blacks and 61 percent of Latinos all support support same-sex unions, all double-digit increases from just four years ago, according to PRRI.

Just six states in the poll results had majorities not in support of gay marriage, and only one, Alabama, had a majority who opposed it. 

The survey says same-sex marriage is now supported by 73 percent of Democrats, 66 percent of independents and 42 percent of Republicans.

Most major religious groups now back the practice as well, PRRI says, including white mainline protestants, at 67 percent; white Catholics, 66 percent; Hispanic Catholics, 65 percent; Orthodox Christians, 66 percent; Muslims, 51 percent; Buddhists, 80 percent; Jewish Americans, 77 percent and Hindus, 75 percent.

Some 80 percent of the religiously unaffiliated support gay marriage.