The Evolution of Attitudes on Same-Sex Marriage in California and the U.S.

cjpp_28925 Abstract: This article focuses on the impact of morality politics and issue framing on attitudes toward same- sex marriage. The comparative data come from California surveys by the Public Policy Institute of California and national surveys by the Pew Research Center and the National Opinion Research Center between 2005 and 2013. Issue framing has played a critical role in the debate on same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage appears driven by issue framing about morality politics, which, unlike other policy arenas characterized by high information costs and limited access, features conflict over fundamental values. Much of the debate has turned on a conflict between traditional morality and equality. The rise of competitive issue frames suggests that political conflict and public attitudes toward same- sex marriage should reflect, at least in part, the factors noted by Haider and Markel: ideology, party competitiveness, and partisanship.