Your weekday morning blend from Instant Tea:
1. It’s hardly the first poll to show that a majority of Americans support same-sex marriage, but it’s the first time a Gallup poll has shown it. Fifty-three percent of Americans believe same-sex marriage should be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights afforded to heterosexual couples, according to poll results released Thursday. This marks a 9 percent increase from 12 months ago, the largest jump in the history of Gallup’s polling on the topic.
2. The Rhode Island House approved a civil unions bill Thursday in the face of opposition from both sides of the issue. Many LGBT advocates opposed the civil unions bill because they want full marriage equality, while right-wingers opposed it because they believe it’s a step toward marriage equality. But the House vote was convincing, 62-to-11, and the bill now moves to the Senate.
3. Hundreds of activists from both sides are expected back at the Minnesota Capitol today, as they continue to await a state House vote on a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage. Meanwhile, the campaign to defeat the amendment at the ballot box in 2012 has already begun. Watch video below.
