Strong Support Is Found for Ban on Gay Marriage

New York Times

"This poll and other surveys show that as the courts have extended legal rights to gays this year, Americans have become increasingly uncomfortable with same-sex relations.

For decades, a majority of Americans have not approved of homosexual relations. That had begun to change, until the Supreme Court ruling in June and the Massachusetts ruling in November. A New York Times/CBS News poll conducted in July found that 54 percent of respondents said homosexual relations should be legal. Only 41 percent of the respondents in the latest poll said they should be legal.

. . .

The Massachusetts ruling also gave new impetus in Congress to sponsors of a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. An amendment, which would require passage by two-thirds of the House and Senate and three-fourths of the states, would override any state court ruling or legislation."

Perhaps a warning for those who wish to sell courts on rights the legislature won't buy. I suppose pro-gay marriage advocates would say that subverting reluctant lawmakers is their only avenue to pursue unpopular rights. I'm not sure if they're just plain stuck, or if their timing is off. Eugene Volokh adds some thoughts here.

UPDATE: According to Scappleface, the Ninth Circuit reversed the anti-gay marriage poll results. Meanwhile, Bush declared the Second Circuit an "enemy combatant."