Poll indicates rising support for gay marriage

WASHINGTON – Public acceptance of same-sex marriage has grown at an accelerating pace, with approval jumping by nine percentage points in the past two years and the nation now evenly divided on the issue, according to a new Pew Research Center survey released Thursday.

The poll, conducted in late September and early October, showed 46 percent of Americans support legalizing same-sex marriage and 44 percent opposed.

It is one of several released this year showing the public either evenly divided or very narrowly favoring same-sex marriage rights.