Same-sex Marriage in Iowa - Public Opinion

Public Opinion

A 2010 survey found that support for same-sex marriage in Iowa was 44%, the only state with same-sex marriage in which support was below 50%. Support in Iowa has increased from below 30% in 1994-96, and from below 40% in 1997-98. A January 2010 survey found that greater than 60% of Iowans agreed that same-sex marriage "does not deserve the Legislature's limited time" in the 2010 session, a truncated session in which legislation was introduced to overturn the same-sex marriage decision. This followed a previous September 2009 poll which found 41% support for and 40% opposition to a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, and that 92% of respondents said "marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples had led to 'no real change' in their own lives."

An August 2011 Public Policy Polling survey found that 46% of Iowa voters thought that same-sex marriage should be legal, while 45% thought it should be illegal and 9% were not sure. A separate question on the same survey found that 70% of Iowa voters supported the legal recognition of same-sex couples, with 40% supporting same-sex marriage, 30% supporting civil unions but not marriage, 29% favoring no legal recognition and 2% not sure.

A February 2012 Des Moines Register poll shows a majority of Iowans oppose passage of a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, by a 56-38 margin.

A February 2013 Public Policy Polling poll found that 46% of Iowa voters thought that same-sex marriage should be legal, while 43% thought it should be illegal and 11% were not sure.