AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR GAY MARRIAGE AT RECORD HIGH

As America’s highest court prepares to consider the issue of gay marriage for the first time, a new survey has shown that support for marriage equality is at a record high in the US.

An ABC News/Washington Post poll revealed that 58 percent of registered voters now back same-sex marriage.

Additionally, voters overwhelmingly said that the US Constitution should be the basis for deciding if gay couples can marry rather than leaving the decision to individual states (64 to 33 percent).

“There can be no doubt that this country is on a one-way road to marriage for loving and committed gay and lesbian couples,” said Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Chad Griffin.

“This new poll reflects the continued evolution of people’s attitudes through thoughtful conversations over dinner tables and water coolers.”

According to the poll, adults between the ages of 18 to 29 now support marriage equality at 81 percent.

Support among seniors has jumped 26 percentage points in the last nine years, while Republican support has jumped 18 points since 2004.

On Monday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton officially voiced her support for marriage equality in a video released by the HRC.

“LGBT Americans are our colleagues, our teachers, our soldiers, our friends and our loved ones, and they are full and equal citizens and deserve the rights of citizenship. That includes marriage,” said Clinton.

“That’s why I support marriage for lesbian and gay couples. I support it personally and as a matter of policy and law.”

Next week, the US Supreme Court will hear arguments in two marriage-related cases.

The one case is challenging the Defence of Marriage Act – which bars federal recognition of same-sex marriages legalised in individual states – and the other is challenging California’s ban on marriage for gay and lesbian couples, known as Proposition 8.

Watch Hillary Clinton speak on same-sex marriage below.