Same-Sex Marriage is Now Supported by a Majority of Americans, Though 28 Percent Believe Gay Relations Should be Criminalized

In the midst of the waves and waves of ugly political news that wash over our mental doorsteps on a daily basis, here’s something refreshing: A new gallup poll conducted earlier this month shows that 64 percent of Americans now support same-sex marriage, and think it “should be recognized by the law as valid.” That’s a three percent hike from last year, and the highest rate of approval, presumably, in American history—and at least since polling began by Gallup in 1996. That year, only 27 percent of all Americans believed it should be legally valid, and the total didn’t exceed 50 percent until 2011.

There were a few other noteworthy results, including:

—Support from Democrats is at 74 percent, Independents at 71 percent, and Republicans at 47 percent—all-time highs in each category.

—For the first time, a majority of Protestants support gay marriage. Catholics reached that threshold in 2011.

—When asked whether gay “relations” should be legal, as opposed to marriage, overall support jumps to 72 percent.

These numbers are heartening, as long as you don’t look too closely, at which point you realize that 28 percent of Americans still believe being gay should be a crime.