UK poll finds low support for 'gay marriage' legalization

London, England, Jun 18, 2012 / 15:09 pm

A recent poll in the United Kingdom found that most gay, lesbian and transgendered people in the country do not support homosexual "marriage," despite Prime Minister David Cameron's intent to legalize it.

The survey – conducted from April 27 to May 20 by the firm ComRes for Catholic Voice – showed that only a minority of the British homosexual population considers the legalization of gay marriage to be a priority. Nearly half of those surveyed said Cameron's plan is more about making his party appear compassionate than about a conviction on the issue.

The poll showed that only 27 percent of those surveyed would get married if British law allowed it, while only 39 percent believe the redefining of marriage is a priority for the community.

"Perhaps now we can have the debate we should have had a long time ago: about whether this is really something good for society; whether there is a convincing case for the public for a radical redefinition of a fundamental institution of society," said Austen Ivereigh, coordinator for Catholic Voices.

The director of the Coalition for Marriage campaign, Colin Hart, also weighed in on the issue, noting that the poll "confirms once again that only a handful of people are pressuring the government to redefine marriage."

"Even among them within the gay community, there is not a majority that thinks this is a priority," he said, adding that the "skepticism of the gay community about the Prime Minister's reasons echoes the opinions of the wider populace."

"The government should abandon these proposals, which are profoundly anti-democratic and never been put before the British public," Hart emphasized.