Page:Affect Change- The increased influence of attitudinal factors on Canadians' support for legal same-sex marriage.pdf/2

 Abstract

AFFECT CHANGE: THE INCREASED INFLUENCE OF ATTITUDINAL FACTORS ON CANADIANS’ SUPPORT FOR LEGAL SAME-SEX MARRIAGE Master of Arts, 2006 Mark Warren Lehman Graduate Department of Political Science, University of Toronto

Using data from Canadian Election Surveys, this study considers Canadian public opinion on legalizing same-sex marriage with the aim of trying to account for the dramatic shift from minority-support to majority-support that occurred between 1997 and 2004. Evidence is presented that, contrary to what public opinion polls suggest, opinions on same-sex marriage can no longer be justifiably ascribed to demographic origins. In large part, the majority support that citizens held by 2004 came about as the result of shifts in attitudes, values, and beliefs, rather than because of demographic factors. Data also suggest that there was a decrease in the influence that traditional moral values and an even larger increase in the influence played by one’s feelings towards gays and lesbians. In fact, this particular change was found to be a fundamental driver behind the dramatic shift to majority support for same-sex marriage that Canadians came to hold by 2004.