A poll by CNN saw 51% of 824 adults voting for marriage equality.
60% of under 50s believed gay couples should be able to wed. These figures see support levels rise from 2008/2009 when the same poll saw only 44 percent in favour.
Out of those surveyed 57% of women voted in favour of gay marriage as opposed to only 45% of men.
Unsurprisingly just 27% of Republicans thought lifting the ban on gay marriage was a good idea compared with 64% of Democrats.
Participants answered the question:
“Do you think marriages between gay and lesbian couples should or should not be recognised by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?”
In March a similar survey conducted by the Washington Post and ABC news resulted in 53% voting for marriage equality.
The states that currently allow gay marriage are Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire and Vermont – and the District of Columbia
California has had an on again off again relationship with the ban. Its marriage laws are currently under review. Maryland was rumoured to be joining the five pro states but its bill failed to gain significant support.
Gay marriage is currently banned by the federal government under the Defence of Marriage Act. The Obama administration has said they will no longer support the law in court. However the Republican controlled House has
appointed a lawyer to do so.
