A new poll finds that a majority of voters in Virgina now support marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples, reflecting a significant shift in public opinion over the last two years.
The Washington Post poll found that 56 percent of voters support same-sex marriage, up 10 points from 2011; the poll found 43 percent remain opposed.
Support was strongest among Democrats (75 percent) and Independent voters (56 percent).
Among Republicans, 40 percent said same-sex marriage should be legal, compared to 47 percent opposed. In 2006, 85 percent of Republican voters supported Virginia’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, according to exit polls.
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Family Foundation of Virginia President Victoria Cobb said the shift in support for same-sex marriage is no reason for conservatives to change course, reported the Post.
“We’ve been hearing for years that people are moving this way or that on these different issues,” Cobb said. “The fact is that Virginia’s voters keep sending conservative, pro-family elected officials to Richmond. Until that changes significantly, these polls are meaningless.”
