October 10th, 2012
By German Lopez |
Politics/Issues |
Posted In: Economy, News, LGBT Issues
Ohio Supports Same-Sex Marriage
New poll shows slim Ohio majority embraces gay marriage
For the first time, a Washington Post poll shows 52 percent of Ohioans support same-sex marriage, and only 37 percent say it should be illegal.
With a margin of error of 4.5 points, it’s possible the
September poll could be too optimistic, but the poll shows a sharp
contrast to 2004, when 62 percent of Ohioans voted in favor of a
constitutional amendment defining marriage between a man and a woman.
The poll also found support for same-sex marriage growing
in Florida and Virginia. In Florida, 54 percent support same-sex
marriage, while 33 percent say it should be illegal. In Virginia, 49
percent support same-sex marriage, and 40 percent want it to be illegal.
Both are increases in support in comparison to previous years.
The news comes at a time when FreedomOhio is stepping up its efforts to get an amendment legalizing same-sex marriage in Ohio on the 2013 ballot.
CORRECTION:
This article originally credited Equality Ohio for the amendment.
The
amendment push is being led by FreedomOhio, a different pro-gay
marriage organization.
The campaign for Freedom to Marry Ohio, the amendment that would legalize same-sex marriage, previously touted an economic study that showed Ohio could bring in $100-126 million of economic growth within three years of legalizing same-sex marriage and sustain 1,160-1,450 Ohio jobs. In Hamilton County, same-sex marriage legalization would bring in $8.3 million. However, the study did not take into account a phenomenon dubbed “marriage tourism,” which involves same-sex couples visiting a state mostly to get married; so it’s possible the economic impact could be even greater than the study suggests.
The study also found that more than 9,800 out of more than 19,600 same-sex marriage couples in Ohio would marry within three years if it was legal, and nearly 900 out of nearly 1,800 in Hamilton County would marry within three years. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg previously touted same-sex marriage legalization for its economic boost to his city. He said it had produced $259 million in economic growth in New York City.
Noted homophobic bigot and COAST cult leader Christopher P Finney's head just exploded while reading this news.
WASHINGTON POST POLL REINFORCES SHIFT IN OHIO SUPPORT FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY GROWING
COLUMBUS – Freedom To Marry and Religious Freedom in Ohio volunteers are working even harder after being heartened by a new Washington Post poll that found a majority of state voters, by a 52-37 percent margin, now support marriage equality.
“A growing majority of Ohio voters support the Freedom To Marry and Religious Freedom amendment that allows a loving and committed couple to have the right to marry so they can better care for and take care of their family,” said Ian James, FreedomOhio co-founder.
James said the hard work of campaign volunteers is paying off as the poll numbers have flipped in the past year.
“The Washington Post poll reinforces what we have already seen in other polls. This is not an anomaly. This is another indicator the time is right and Ohioans are more fully understanding that marriage equality is a civil right whose time has come,” James said
Volunteers have collected signatures in every county in the state. The FreedomOhio Executive Committee will decide next June if the time is right and the support is there to move forward with placing the Freedom to Marry and Religious Freedom amendment before voters in November, 2013.
“We will continue to have a positive dialogue with Ohio voters to explain why marriage equality matters at the same time our volunteers step up their efforts to collect signatures and identify our supporters in every precinct in the state,” James said.
To see the WP poll: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/poll-support-grows-for-same-sex-marriage-in-florida-ohio-and-virginia/2012/10/09/969bea0e-1220-11e2-be82-c3411b7680a9_story.html