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Support Grows for Same Sex
Partner Rights U.S. Survey Shows

Includes Joint Property Rights, Inheritance & Hospital Visitation

Nearly Half Support Couples' Social Security Survivor Benefits

Compiled By GayToday
Witeck-Combs Communications/Harris Interactive�

Rochester, NY-July 11, 2002- 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, according to a new national Witeck-Combs Communications/Harris Interactive� study.

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.

These are some of the highlights of a nationwide Witeck-Combs Communications/Harris Interactive study of 2,050 adults, of whom six percent (6%) self-identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (GLBT).

The survey was conducted online between June 20 and 26, 2002 by Harris Interactive, a worldwide market research and consulting firm, in conjunction with Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc., a strategic public relations and marketing communications firm with special expertise in the GLBT market.

When asked specifically about the distribution of $2.3 billion in funds raised for families directly impacted by September 11, a plurality of respondents (48%) supported giving the same compensation to same-sex couples as to legally married couples. Just under a third (31%) indicated they were opposed, and one in five (21%) said they neither supported nor opposed equal 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."

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Related Sites:

Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc.

Harris Interactive�

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"Our research finds that certain groups expressed greater support for benefits for same sex couples," said David Krane, senior vice president at Harris Interactive. "This is true especially of those who are younger, those who have higher education levels, and women who show more support of same-sex couples having access to the same rights given to legally married couples."

Methodology
This study was conducted online within the United States between June 20 and 26, 2002, among a nationwide cross section of 2,050 adults. Figures for age, sex, race, education, region and income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. "Propensity score" weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

In theory, with a probability sample of this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results have a statistical precision of plus or minus 3 percentage points of what they would be if the entire adult population had been polled with complete accuracy. However, this is not a probability sample.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.