Logo TV has released a survey that reveals that issues that were primarily of concern to LGBT voters have expanded beyond that demographic.
The survey, conducted Aug. 10-15, compared the political attitudes of 1,367 U.S. adult voters (reflecting the broader U.S. electorate) with those of 1,190 self-identified adult LGBT voters.
The findings also indicate that LGBT voters prioritize the same issues of the economy, unemployment and health carethe same as a cross-section of all U.S. voters.
For example, when asked what they feel is the most important issue in deciding this year's presidential election, LGBT and general-population (gen-pop) voters ranked economic issues, unemployment/jobs and health care first through third, respectively. Gen-pop voters then ranked the federal-budget deficit number four, followed by Social Security, with gay rights and same-sex marriage tied for last; LGBT voters went with gay rights and Social Security, with marriage and the deficit tying for last.
Also, gen-pop voters were asked if they were more or less likely to vote for a candidate who supported certain LGBT-related issues. Forty-nine percent said they would be more likely to vote for someone who favored anti-bullying legislation, with a law banning workplace discrimination close behind at 48 percent.
"The findings in this survey demonstrate what many Americans, gay and straight, have been feeling intuitively: We have reached an historic turning point in the lives of [LGBT] Americans," said Lisa Sherman, executive vice president and general manager of Logo TV in a statement.
LGBT and gen-pop voters were also asked who they would vote for "if the presidential election were held today." Sixty-seven percent of the LGBT participants would vote for President Obama, with 23 percent voting for GOP challenger Mitt Romney. Among gen-pop respondents, the numbers are 48 percent and 42 percent, respectively.
The entire poll can be found at www.newnownext.com/new-logo-tv-harris-poll-lgbt-issues-see-historic-political-shift/08/2012.