New Gallup Poll Reveals Dramatic Shift in American Attitudes on Gender and Marriage

Clear Facts

• Support for same-sex marriage has dropped six percentage points from its 2022-2023 peak to 65%, according to a new Gallup poll released Wednesday
• Only 38% of Americans now view gender transition as morally acceptable, down eight points since 2021, while 57% view it as morally wrong
• Republican support for same-sex marriage plummeted from 55% in 2021-2022 to just 37% today, driving the overall national decline

A new Gallup survey reveals that Americans’ views on marriage and gender issues are shifting away from the progressive positions that dominated recent years, with support declining across multiple key measures.

The poll, conducted in early May as part of Gallup’s annual Values and Beliefs survey, shows 65% of Americans still support legal same-sex marriage. However, that represents a six-point drop from peak support recorded in 2022 and 2023.

Moral acceptance of gay and lesbian relationships has similarly declined to 62%, marking the lowest level since 2016. The shift represents a reversal of a decades-long trend that saw acceptance rise from 40% in 2001 to 71% in 2022.

The most dramatic change involves attitudes toward gender transition. Just 38% of Americans now believe changing one’s gender is morally acceptable, while a clear majority of 57% view it as morally wrong.

This eight-point decline since 2021 reflects growing concerns among Americans about the rapid pace of cultural change on gender issues, particularly as they affect children and women’s spaces.

The data reveals a stark partisan divide driving these national trends. Republican support for legal same-sex marriage has fallen to 37%, down sharply from the 55% majority recorded in 2021-2022.

Among Republicans, acceptance of same-sex relationships dropped 21 points to just 35%, returning to levels not seen since 2005-2014. On gender transition, only 5% of Republicans view changing one’s gender as morally acceptable.

Independents also contributed to the shift, with support for same-sex marriage declining six points to 67% and moral acceptance of gay relationships falling eight points to 64%. Support for gender transition among independents stands at 42%.

Democratic views have remained largely stable, with 87% supporting same-sex marriage and 81% viewing gay relationships as morally acceptable. However, even Democrats saw a notable drop in support for gender transition this year, falling to 60%.

The polling results suggest Americans are reconsidering positions on cultural issues after years of rapid social change. The shift comes as more parents and citizens have raised concerns about gender ideology in schools, biological males in women’s sports, and the medical treatment of children questioning their gender identity.

While support for traditional marriage and family structures has historically been a cornerstone of American conservatism, the data shows even previously settled issues are being reevaluated by a broader segment of the population.

The decline in support has been consistent, with the survey showing marginal drops every year since 2024 on the marriage question. After peaking in 2022, moral approval of same-sex relations saw a sharp seven-point drop in 2023, where it has since stabilized at lower levels.

These shifts reflect a broader cultural reconsideration as Americans weigh competing values of personal freedom, child welfare, religious liberty, and biological reality in public policy debates.

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