Almost 10 years after the Supreme Court granted national recognition to same-sex marriages, most Americans support that right, but the percentage has plateaued in recent years.
The latest Gallup survey finds 68% of U.S. adults think marriages between same-sex couples should be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages.
Support for same-sex marriage topped out at 71% in 2022 and 2023. The current percentage of Americans backing same-sex marriage is statistically unchanged from 67% in 2018.
The most consistent churchgoers remain one of the few demographics in which a majority are not in favor of same-sex marriage. Among those who attend religious services at least weekly, just 33% support it. The percentage doubles among those attending nearly weekly or monthly (67%), while Americans who seldom or never attend are most likely (81%) to support same-sex marriage.
Democrats (88%) and Independents (76%) have remained increasingly likely to affirm legalized same-sex marriage, though the growth rate has slowed. Among Republicans, however, support has plummeted 14 points in three years — from 55% in 2022 to 41% today.
The percentage of Republicans who support same-sex marriage is at its lowest level since 2016, when the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling legalized marriage for same-sex couples.
Before this current decline, support among almost every group had consistently increased since Gallup began tracking the issue 29 years ago. At that point, just 27% of Americans were in favor of legalized same-sex marriage.
Similarly, Lifeway Research found support is no longer growing among U.S. Protestant pastors. From 2010 to 2019, the percentage of pastors who said they saw nothing wrong with two people of the same gender getting married increased from 15% to 24%.
Growth was driven exclusively by mainline Protestant pastors, who jumped in their rates of approval from 32% to 47%. Evangelicals remained at 8%.
In 2023, however, 21% of all U.S. Protestant pastors were in favor of same-sex marriage, including 46% of mainline pastors and 7% of evangelicals.
Additionally, Gallup found the percentage of Americans who believe same-sex relations are morally acceptable has leveled off. Currently, 64% of U.S. adults agree, remaining static since 2023. Previously, support grew consistently to reach 71% in 2022.
Democrats remain increasingly accepting of same-sex relations. In 2025, 86% are supportive, the highest levels in Gallup’s history. After reaching 74% in 2021, support among independents has dipped slightly to 69% today. In 2022, 56% of Republicans accepted same-sex relations, but that has fallen to 38% in 2025, owing particularly to a 15-point drop in 2023.
Again, weekly churchgoers have the lowest levels of agreement. Around a quarter (24%) believe gay or lesbian relations are morally acceptable, while 56% of nearly weekly or monthly attendees agree and 81% of those who seldom or never attend agree.
Additionally, women are more likely than men to support same-sex marriage (73% v. 62%) and approve of same-sex relations (68% v. 58%). Similar differences exist between those with a college degree and those without. Also, younger Americans are more supportive than older adults.
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Aaron Earls is a writer for LifeWay Christian Resources. This article originally appeared at research.lifeway.com.)
