EMBARGOED UNTIL 9 A.M. EDT OCT. 31, 2007

Oct. 31, 2007

(Release 163-3)

CONTACT:

TIM VERCELLOTTI, Ph.D., (732) 932-9384, EXT. 285; (919) 812-3452 (cell)

GAY MARRIAGE COMES OUT IN NEW JERSEY, YET OPINION IS UNCHANGED

ONE YEAR AFTER HISTORIC RULING, STATE STILL SPLIT OVER SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

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As the state marks the one-year anniversary of a New Jersey Supreme Court decision ordering the State Legislature to extend the legal rights of married couples to gay and lesbian couples, the public remains evenly divided over whether those rights should include marriage.

A Rutgers-Eagleton Poll of 1,002 New Jersey adults, conducted Oct. 18 through Oct. 23, found that 48 percent favor allowing gay marriage, while 45 percent are opposed. Given the polls margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, the results are indistinguishable from a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll conducted in June 2006 in which 50 percent supported gay marriage and 44 percent were opposed.

For complete release please go to http://eagletonpoll.

CONTACT: Tim Vercellotti, Ph.D.

732-932-9384, Ext. 285

919-812-3452 (cell)

E-mail: tim.vercellotti@rutgers.edu