Gallup reports increase in same-sex marriage support

I posted some comments on public opinion about same-sex marriage, and now I see a new Gallup Poll:

Today's 70% support for same-sex marriage marks a new milestone in a trend that has pointed upward for a quarter of a century. A small minority of Americans (27%) supported legal recognition of gay and lesbian marriages in 1996, when Gallup first asked the question. But support rose steadily over time, eventually reaching the majority level for the first time in 2011.

20. Do you think marriages between same-sex couples should or should not be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages?

This appears to be a dramatic change, but notice the strange wording of the question. When California voted twice on the issue, the question was whether marriage is between a man and a woman. This question assumes that same-sex couple can get married, and asks about legal recognition and rights.

It does appear that politicians and other public figures making arguments for traditional marriage have totally evaporated. I do not believe that they were persuaded. They were intimidated and harassed. In part by the gay lobby, but also by feminists and others who oppose marriage.

There are even some factions that pretend to support traditional marriage, but don't. For example, consider:

Angelina Jolie reportedly will 'never forgive' Brad Pitt after he was awarded joint custody of their children last week.

According to reports from US Weekly on Tuesday, the actress, 45, was left 'bitterly disappointed' by the result and feels their legal battle is 'far from over'.

Advocates of traditional marriage should be siding with Brad Pitt on this. But they don't. Even some very religious advocates believe in a mom-custody rule that is contrary to traditional marriage.

We see something similar with transgender issues. I have never heard of anyone persuaded by transgender arguments. But a great many people have been intimidated and harassed. You can get canceled for saying a simple truth like "a man is a man". So now most politicians and public figures will not say it. Were they convinced that a man is not a man? Of course not. They just don't want to get sucked into some stupid transgender debate where they get persecuted for saying the obvious.

Update: Another Gallup poll says more LGBT adults are married to a spouse of the opposite sex (11.4%) than to a spouse of the same sex (9.6%). Overall, less than 1% of U.S. adults are married to a same-sex spouse.

Some of those classify themselves as bisexual (B of LGBT). Of the T for transgender, it is possible that one could have an opposite-sex spouse who is also same-gender. Or same-sex and opposite gender, as transgenders change gender but not sex.