A new CBS News poll showed that 77% of Americans know someone who is gay or lesbian, up 35 percentage points since 1992. Not surprisingly, there is also a greater acceptance of gay people. Some results:
"Eight-four percent of Americans under 30 know someone who is gay or lesbian. Older Americans are less likely to know someone who is gay or lesbian: Just 66 percent of those over 65 say they do.
Fifty-one percent of Americans believe people are born homosexual - an increase of eight points from 1993. Thirty-six percent say homosexuality is something people choose. Those who know someone who is gay or lesbian are more likely to believe sexuality is something people are born with.
More than half (53 percent) believe it is necessary to have laws that protect gays and lesbians from discrimination in hiring and promotion. Forty-three percent do not. Women are more likely than men to support such protections.
The terminology used in polling has a small impact on responses on the issue. Asked if "homosexual" relations are wrong in the poll, 43 percent said yes. But asked if "same-sex" relations are wrong, that percentage dropped to 39 percent.
And while 51 percent see being "homosexual" as something people are born with, a slightly smaller percentage, 47 percent, say being "gay or lesbian" is something people are born with."
The battles continue, but we've won the war.
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