More Blacks In North Carolina Approve Of Same-Sex Marriage Since Obama's Announcement: Poll

When President Obama announced last week that he supported same-sex marriage, the conventional wisdom was that the president ran the risk of alienating black voters, who make up a big part of his base and who are generally less supportive of letting gays and lesbians marry.

But the president's stance has had little effect on his black support, and it may have even helped changed some African Americans' opinions on the issue in at least one state.

According to a new poll from Public Policy Polling, 55 percent of black voters in North Carolina "believe same-sex couples should either be allowed to marry or form civil unions" — an 11-point jump from the last poll conducted on May 6 before the Tar Heel State's primaries.

Just a day before President Obama made his statement, voters in North Carolina went to the polls to approve a constitutional ban on same sex marriage there. Two-thirds of the black voters cast votes in favor of the ban, according to Politico.

The pollsters noted that same-sex marriage is still viewed unfavorably in North Carolina, with 58 percent of voters saying they were opposed to same-sex marriage. (The constitutional amendment forbidding same-sex marriage in North Carolina passed with 61 percent of the vote.) But voters there were more sympathetic to the idea of allowing same-sex couples to enter into civil unions: 55 percent of voters believe gay couples should be allowed to marry or form civil unions. That's also up from the pre-primary survey, by two points.

President Obama won North Carolina in 2008 — the first Democrat to do so since Jimmy Carter in 1976. But the most recent poll from Rasmussen shows him trailing his presumptive Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, 51 to 43, while the latest PPP poll shows the two of them in a virtual dead heat.

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Comments

[Lady Deathstrike]

11:52 AM on 03/25/2013

in the same poll 58% said it should be illegal??? WTH

[CivilDebate10]

10:43 PM on 05/22/2012

Why is polygamy illegal? There is more historical and cultural support for polygamy than there is for gay marriage.

[Aesthete]

11:11 AM on 05/21/2012

I fully understand the objection to same-sex marriage on religious grounds. However, the U.S. Constitution forbids the passage of civil laws based on a particular religious dogma, since it promotes the ideal of liberty and justice for ALL. In many Muslim countries, their religion IS the law. I myself am a Christian, but I understand that the U.S. cannot pass laws based on anyone's religious dogma. The U.S. has to operate under the principle of separation of church and state. Also, because we have religious freedom for everyone, there are many faiths in the U.S. The U.S. cannot be a theocracy that favors one religious doctrine over all others. I don't know what President Obama's personal religious beliefs are, but he, like all U.S. presidents, are sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution.

[AFRose]

06:08 PM on 05/21/2012

While I understand your argument......... Is the government's fight against same sex marriage based on religious beliefs or is it based on the fact that sodomy is against the law? I don't think the government belongs in our bedrooms. But to ask the government to acknowledge same sex marriage is asking the government to sanction sodomy.

[AFRose]

11:13 PM on 05/21/2012

The sodomy question is very important in this discussion. While everyone knows many straight couples commit acts of sodomy behind closed doors, the fact is you can't prove it without invading their privacy. Another words.....a straight couple "can" have sex without commiting sodomy. But a gay couple commits sodomy everytime they have sex. First this country has to decide if sodomy is legal or not. And if this country decides to legalize sodomy, what are we going to do with all those people sitting in prisons on that very charge? And can we request our government sanction an act it deems illegal.

[Pho3n1xSun]

07:25 PM on 05/20/2012

Huffington post. why do i feel like you deleted my comment about racism even though the only curse word I used is replaced with symbols? you really don't do much justice especially when you let racist, misogynist, homophobic or abusive comments go through that end up being removed because others caught your mistake

[Pho3n1xSun]

05:37 PM on 05/20/2012

Okay, I will say this:

Despite his support for marriage equality, I'm still not sure if I could trust the President. it's true he has done much for us in his 1st term than others have, but is it safe to say that this truly being done because of support for the LGBT community or is it to ensure our votes for this election? and as for the big name supporters we're getting. can we be sure that they're not just jumping on the band wagon because it's popular, but because it's right? I'm not saying vote for Romney, though. Especially after these past few months. A GOOD portion of the Republican party and it's supporters have made it clear that they do not value the rights of others regardless of race, gender,sexuality, creed, etc. Now before anyone jumps down my throat I'm not saying don't vote. I'm just not sure if I could see an overall positive outcome anymore through either candidate (any politician overall). We need people who are going to make a decision that is best for all because it's right and we need people who forget about us until it's election time and suddenly we're on everyone's to do list. I'm tired of being used as an American citizen. period.

[Pho3n1xSun]

06:24 PM on 05/20/2012

one important point I want to cover :)

for everyone here on the subject of Racism: SHUT THE F&$%$ UP ALREADY!! this is pathetic. To everyone who has and continue to generalize the Black community as homophobic, just stop. you bunch us all up into one entire group that way and who deals with the backlash of it? the Black LGBT members caught in the damn middle. you let the people who misinformed the majority of proposition 8 and Amendment 1 voter, trick you all into grabbing pitch forks and hunting after anyone who's simply Black regardless of being gay or not. it's pathetic and turns the Gay community and it's supporters into hypocrites. what's worse is that we all know Racism exist everywhere, but many gays refuse to believe it exists within the community or get extremely defensive and use the sexual preference excuse whenever it's brought up. it's not unthinkable and shouldn't be shot down whenever someone of a racial minority mentions it and it's not about accusing someone of being a racist, but being open to discussing and dealing with the issue to better unite us as a community. I hope someone around here reads Justin's blogs. if not:
http://www.iamyellowperil.com/2012/04/30/bitchfest/

[accarain]

11:00 AM on 05/20/2012

President Obama will not get my vote come election time neither will Romney.

[WRRzero1]

09:31 AM on 05/20/2012

I don't understand how the black race can support a man that has done very little for the black unemployment rate.

[Aesthete]

10:42 AM on 05/21/2012

President Obama is president of the entire U.S.A., not just of blacks. He, like all other U.S. presidents, is also leader of the free world. I understood at the outset that NO U.S. president ought to be a captive of narrow or exclusive parochial interests---he or she has to function as president of ALL. From my own observation and experience, the issue of job and/or other opportunities for blacks is best dealt with at a more local level. No president can wave a magic wand from Washington, D.C. and make everyone's problems go away and I have never expected this from any of them, black, white, or whatever. However, there are black leaders and others in a number of local communities who are getting things done and making a difference.

[Minty6]

10:51 AM on 05/25/2012

I don't understand how anyone can assume that blacks will vote for a party that has not ever given them anything in their interests. Not to mention do things for the 1% at the expense of the 99%

[Mark B Robertson]

03:27 PM on 05/19/2012

You're so lucky to have Barack Obama as your President. If you decide not to have him as your President please send him to Britain, we need someone competent!

[JustReal5]

03:01 PM on 05/19/2012

This is really embarrassing. And not to sound messed up is probably not doing anything for our "40 acres" How do you come from where we came from and treat others as less than human? And their are certain people looking at this whether they are gay or not and shaking their damn head. And I don't blame them because it's just so sad. A Jew would never do this. You see how quiet their staying. Yea....

[JustReal5]

02:56 PM on 05/19/2012

Smh. Slave Masters Religion... While Europeans are dropping like flies from the hypocrisy of Christianity. The religion that was FORCED upon us by their ancestors still has our mind in such a tight grip that we can't even treat other citizens with respect. Were almost starting to sound crazy.. If ANY Book is governing you to treats others wrong. Then it is wrong. And we damn sure should KNOW BETTER.

[timesrtough]

10:01 AM on 05/19/2012

Point 1. The same sex crowd will never be satisfied with civil unions. Even if it gives the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as marriage, it won't be enough. They so want to have the term marriage conferred on their union and to force those that disagree with that concept to say "the word." This to elevate and normalize their status. There have been isolated cases of attempts to force churches to perform the marriage ceremony and this effort will continue to grow. Yes, some already do but the unspoken goal is to find a way to make all churches accept this.
Point 2. It really doesn't matter what BHO does. He could support using bunnies as targets for skeet shooters or kittens instead of baseballs. It wouldn’t matter. He will continue to have and enjoy the majority support from the AA community. And this support is provided for one and only one reason.

[R clinton]

11:40 PM on 05/18/2012

Sometimes the black church gets in the way of black progress...here's how....http://buildbackwards.blogspot.com/2012/05/gay-rights-religious-oppression-and-you.html

[Catsun]

03:10 AM on 05/19/2012

I agree. I don't think the black church is doing their members any favors, except filling their head with a bunch of lies.

[Pho3n1xSun]

07:08 PM on 05/20/2012

where are the racist commentators coming from? think you delete them. other than that i agree with the points you bring up on your blog

[1thinker]

10:15 PM on 05/18/2012

If blacks voted on 15.8% unemployment,Obama would lose in a landslide!!!

[Mailman]

07:55 AM on 05/19/2012

It's the Marion Berry thing, vote black no matter what he stands for.

[AFRose]

06:28 PM on 05/21/2012

Marion Barry was a great mayor. He did have personal issues, but he cared very much for those he represented. He fought hard for DC and the citizens recognized it. He was very instrumental & responsible for the success of the Million Man March in DC. Whites think blacks do what whites do. Whites vote based on race all the time. Whites would switch parties to vote white.

[AFRose]

11:35 PM on 05/21/2012

Blacks don't need to explain their loyalty (if any) for a black candidate. All other ethnic groups vote for those who share their heritage.

[Minty6]

10:57 AM on 05/25/2012

I can see why you have 0 fans. Consider Mitt's vulture capitalism.

[TheLyricalLady]

07:34 PM on 05/18/2012

although i can and do appreciate the discussion, why are all the authorities on black people white? Why do white people seem to know so much about us? Why does what you have to say about us hold so much water? If you really knew us you would know that we are not controlled by the Borg! Nor do we need you to tell us what to do, who to vote for or how to think. Try talking to us not at us. We are not children and truthfully you are no shining example in the sky. You got more problems than a little bit. Maybe just maybe it's a little more complex than you think. Maybe we are more complex than you think. Check your approach. Talk to us like we are grown. Then maybe we can solve some of this.

[timesrtough]

10:15 AM on 05/19/2012

The other side of the coin asks "why are all the authorities on white people black"? I ask this because I read so many comments that say: whites hate us, whites hate BHO, whites are the cause/reason for our poverty, whites don't care about blacks, whites hold us back, whites are the devil, whites don't care if police patrol our neighborhood, whites put us in jail in for minor crimes, etc., etc., etc.. In other words, whites are the single reason for all of the problems in the black community. Why do blacks think they know how “all” whites feel?

[AFRose]

09:18 PM on 05/21/2012

@timestough.....To be perfectly honest with you, whites have caused most of the problems in the black community. I wouldn't have mentioned it, but you brought it up for discussion. Blacks do know more about whites than whites know about blacks. Whites feeling the earth revolves around them, doesn't spend the time to really know blacks.

[AFRose]

06:33 PM on 05/21/2012

@TheLyricalLady....Very well said. Not all, but many whites honestly believe the world revolves around them.

[vgirl1]

07:28 PM on 05/18/2012

All Blacks should also remember that it was not too long ago that it was being preached from pulpits that it was a sin for Blacks to marry Whites.

All Blacks should also remember that it was not that long ago that it was being preached from pulpits that it was a sin for Blacks and Whites to go to school together, to sit at a lunch counter together, to drink from the same water fountain ,to live in the same neighborhood, to ride in the front of the bus, etc.

All Blacks should also remember that it was also from the pulpit that the righteouness of slavery and the slave trade was preached.

Organized religion has all too often been complicit in the discrimination or degredation of one group of people versus another.

Think about it.

[Shinynewthings]

09:33 PM on 05/18/2012

Please stop using that silly line. It's not a privilege to marry you and it doesn't benefit blacks in anyway . We did not base our entire movement around interracial marriage. I'm sick of that patronizing comment telling us how lucky we are to be able to marry you.

[NYToad]

10:45 PM on 05/18/2012

But did vgirl1 really say that?

[AFRose]

06:53 PM on 05/21/2012

@Shinynewthings..... Thankyou !!!!!

[AFRose]

06:49 PM on 05/21/2012

This stuff you're talking about was preached in white churches, not black churches. Segregation was a white idea. So why are you preaching to black people for. Maybe you need to be preaching to your fellow whites. Gay blacks are still dealing with white racism from both the white straight @ gay communities. And straight blacks fair any better. Blacks owe gay whites NO support. Blacks in general have enough on their plate.