Key Findings: Marriage Equality Rally Survey Results, 2013*

Participants in demonstrations for marriage equality were asked how they and their families would be impacted, if same-sex marriage were legalized federally. Respondents were surveyed on-site at a vigil and at two rallies held at the Supreme Court from March 25-27, 2013. Participants were also surveyed online from March 23-28, 2013. Additional online surveys that were accepted until until June 30, 2013, are not included in the preliminary results. Preliminary results are posted below, based on a sample of 468 respondents sampled on-site and online, as of March 28, 2013.

55% of respondents said federal recognition of same-sex marriage would affect their ability to get married. Hence, a majority of the participants would experience an improvement in the quality of life stemming from the legal, financial, social, and emotional benefits of marriage.
21% of respondents said federal recognition of same-sex marriage would impact their ability to get divorced. Because states are not uniform in their recognition of same-sex marriage, some respondents have gotten married in a region that recognizes same-sex marriage, and then are unable to get divorced because they reside in a state that does not recognize their marriage. Hence, it can be a tremendous challenge both legally and financially to make healthy decisions about ending existing relationships.
29% of respondents said federal recognition of same-sex marriage would affect their ability to adopt/co-parent. This finding suggests a legal ruling in favor of marriage equality would help LGBT families achieve legal protections that would enable them to create a stable family unit and that many participants are eager to have families.
32% of respondents said federal recognition of same-sex marriage would impact their access to health care proxy. Many LGBT individuals live in states where their partner is unable to make medical decisions on their behalf or even be present and informed during medical emergencies without power of attorney. Thus, marriage equality helps to ensure that spouses are able to make important life decisions about loved ones during medical emergencies.
40% of respondents said federal recognition of same-sex marriage would affect their ability to provide health care benefits. This finding highlights the potential public health impact of marriage equality, in extending access to health care and reducing the cost of uninsured individuals to the public. Moreover, ensuring that family members are covered medically helps families achieve financial security and avoid exorbitant medical debts.
17% of respondents said federal recognition of same-sex marriage would impact their ability to provide immigration sponsorship. Currently, the federal government does not recognize same-sex marriages, and spouses are thus unable to sponsor one another for visas. Extending marriage equality would ensure that families are not split apart or forced to move outside the United States in order to stay together.
32% of respondents said federal recognition of same-sex marriage would enable them to avoid inheritance penalties. The financial impact of the Defense of Marriage Act on same-sex spouses is considerable and is exemplified in the case of Edie Windsor whose challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act is being ruled on by the Supreme Court. Mrs. Windsor received a bill of $363,000 in federal estate taxes after her wife and partner of 44 years passed away in 2009, and if she had been married to an opposite-sex spouse, she would not have had to pay at all.
34% of respondents said federal recognition of same-sex marriage would enable them to avoid tax penalties. Couples in same-sex marriages are unable to file jointly at the federal level and sometimes, at the state level. As a result, many couples pay several thousand dollars of additional taxes every year. Moreover, same-sex couples whose employer does offer health insurance coverage for same-sex partners are often taxed as if the employer contributions to partners’ health insurance premiums are additional income. Marriage equality would enable same-sex couples to be treated the same way as opposite-sex couples and have a level playing field in achieving financial security.
31% of respondents said federal recognition of same-sex marriage would enable them to increase their retirement benefits. Currently, same-sex spouses do not qualify for social security benefits based on their spouses’ contributions, and thus receive considerably lower pension and survivor benefits. Additionally, military veterans who are married to same-sex spouses are not able to share benefits with their spouses.
37% of respondents said federal recognition of same-sex marriage was not applicable to their individual and family situations. There were many participants in the rallies for marriage equality who attended as allies, to show their support for extending equal protection to all by legalizing same-sex marriage.

* Please contact Dr. Helma de Vries-Jordan, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, if you would like to cite this data: hdevries@pitt.edu