Thursday, July 11, 2002
Survey reveals strong support for domestic partnership rights
A story released today by PRNewswire reports according to a new national study by Witeck-Combs Communications/Harris Interarctive, a clear majority of Americans surveyed in June expressed support for basic partnership rights for same-sex couples, including joint property rights, estate inheritance laws, emergency health care authority and hospital visitation rights. A plurality of individuals surveyed (48%) also supports Social Security survivor benefits for same-sex couples, with 34% opposed and 18% undecided.
When U.S. adults were asked whether same-sex couples should have the following rights and benefits that are provided to legally married couples, they responded as follows:
- 71% of all Americans support hospital visitation rights;
- 66% of all Americans support emergency health care authority;
- 60% of all Americans support joint property rights;
- 59% of all Americans support estate inheritance laws;
- 48% of all Americans support Social Security survivor benefits.
Bob Witeck, CEO of Witeck-Combs Communications, said, "The term same-sex marriage perhaps remains politicized and controversial. However, when basic rights of marriage and civil unions are spelled out, it's not so surprising that the American people increasingly favor fairness and equity for all couples, including same-sex unions."
