Statewide poll shows support for gay-rights legislation

By Mary Massingale
Copley News Service
12/22/04

SPRINGFIELD - A new statewide poll commissioned by a gay-rights organization shows nearly two-thirds of Illinois residents support proposed state legislation barring discrimination against gays.

And the same poll shows Democratic and Republican support for the proposal at nearly identical levels, just weeks before the General Assembly may take action on the measure.

"There is this talk about the country moving right, with the gay-rights issue part of the focus," said Rick Garcia, executive director of Chicago-based Equality Illinois. "And here we have a poll way after the election, and it shows overwhelming support for gay rights."

But the head of a conservative organization charged the six-question poll is simplistic and biased.

"They chose leading questions to produce the results they want to get this legislation passed," said Peter LaBarbera, executive director of the Illinois Family Institute in Glen Ellyn. "Homosexuality is a changeable behavior -- it's not a civil rights issue like race."

The polls asks only two questions regarding gay rights, with the remaining four focusing on county of residence, political affiliation, age, and gender. The poll was conducted by the Chicago-based Glengariff Group, which is a marketing firm and advertising agency established in 1998. It lists among its clients General Motors Corp. and Northwestern University.

The company surveyed 600 registered Illinois voters on Dec. 13 -14. Surveyors contacted residents by random telephone dialing in the following five regions: Cook County, the collar or suburban counties, west/northwest Illinois, central Illinois, and southern Illinois. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. Percentages may not total 100 because of rounding.

Sixty-three percent of respondents said they supported Senate Bill 3186, "which would make it illegal to fire an individual from their job or deny them housing because they are gay," the poll states. Another 3 percent said they lean in support of the bill.

Sixteen percent oppose SB3186, and 1 percent lean in opposition of the bill. Fourteen percent didn't know, while 2 percent refused to answer.

SB3186 would amend the Illinois Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in most transactions involving employment, housing, public accommodations or credit. The act already bans those types of discrimination based on factors such as race, religion, gender, age, marital status or handicap.

The proposal popped up in the last days of the legislature's November veto session when the House used a legislative maneuver to add the human-rights amendment to SB3186, bypassing the usual process by allowing both chambers to hear the measure simultaneously. Backers chose to target the Senate first since the House has previously passed similar legislation. But the Democratic sponsor could not muster needed Republican votes for passage, so the bill was not called for a vote.

However, current lawmakers may again consider the measure when they meet again Jan. 10 and 11, before the new General Assembly is sworn in Jan. 12.

Seventy-seven percent of Democratic poll respondents said they support SB3186, while 71 percent of Republicans support it and 58 percent of independents support it.

"There's very strong Republican support, and conventional wisdom says they don't support gay rights," Garcia said.

All five regions supported the legislation, ranging from 73 percent approval in Cook County to 59 percent in southern Illinois.

When asked in general about gay rights, 66 percent of respondents "strongly agree" that gay people should have "equal rights in terms of job opportunities and housing," while 15 percent said they "somewhat agree." Five percent "strongly disagree," 2 percent "somewhat disagree" and 12 percent "didn't know."

Ninety-four percent of Democratic respondents said they agree gay people should have equal rights, while 79 percent of Republicans agree. Seventy-nine percent of independents also agree.

Again, all five regions supported equal rights, ranging from 91 percent who agree in Cook County to 77 percent in both central and southern Illinois.

LaBarbera said the poll should have focused on the promotion of transgender behavior and gay marriage.

"This legislation is opening up a Pandora's box for gay and transsexual activism," LaBarbera said.

Statewide Illinois Survey

Hello, my name is _____. I’m not selling anything. I’m doing a quick survey of voters in Illinois to gather opinions. The survey will take less than five minutes.

Are you currently registered to vote at the address I am calling?

Yes...CONTINUE (100%)  No....TERMINATE (0%)

In which county do you live?

  1. Cook County (43%)
  2. Collar Counties (23%)
  3. West/ Northwest Illinois (9%)
  4. Central Illinois (14%)
  5. Southern Illinois (10%)

 

Generally speaking, would you say that you tend to vote mostly for Republican candidates, mostly for Democrat candidates, or would you say you are an Independent?

  1. Democrat (40%)
  2. Republican (21%)
  3. Independent (30%)
  4. Other (4%)
  5. Don’t Know/ Refused (5%)

 

Currently in Illinois, an individual can be fired from their job or be refused housing because they are gay. The legislature is about to vote on Senate Bill 3186 which would make it illegal to fire an individual from their job or deny them housing because they are gay. Would you say you [ROTATE] support Senate Bill 3186 or would you say you are opposed to Senate Bill 3186. (IF DON’T KNOW, ASK: WHICH WAY DO YOU LEAN?)

  1. Support Senate Bill (63%)
  2. Lean Support (3%)
  3. Don’t Know... DO NOT OFFER (14%)
  4. Lean Opposed (1%)
  5. Oppose Senate Bill (16%)
  6. Refused (2%)

 

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement..."Gay and Lesbian people should have equal rights in terms of job opportunities and housing" ASK: WOULD THAT BE STRONGLY AGREE/ DISAGREE OR JUST SOMEWHAT AGREE/DISAGREE?

  1. Strongly Agree (66%)
  2. Somewhat Agree (15%)
  3. Don’t Know/ Neutral...DO NOT OFFER (12%)
  4. Somewhat Disagree (2%)
  5. Strongly Disagree (5%)

 

Could you tell me in what year you were born?

  1. 1975-1986/ 18-29 years old (10%)
  2. 1969-1975/ 30-35 years old (8%)
  3. 1964-1968/ 36-40 years old (8%)
  4. 1955-1963/ 41-49 years old (12%)
  5. 1949-1954/ 50-55 years old (12%)
  6. 1940-1948/ 56-64 years old (17%)
  7. 1939 and before/ over 65 years old (29%)
  8. Don’t Know/ Refused (3%)

 

Sex

  1. Male (50%)
  2. Female (50%)

    3. Thank you. That concludes our survey.

    Crosstabs

Currently in Illinois, an individual can be fired from their job or be refused housing because they are gay. The legislature is about to vote on Senate Bill 3186 which would make it illegal to fire an individual from their job or deny them housing because they are gay. Would you say you [ROTATE] support Senate Bill 3186 or would you say you are opposed to Senate Bill 3186. (IF DON’T KNOW, ASK: WHICH WAY DO YOU LEAN?)

    Support Oppose Don’t know

    Cook County: 73% 15% 12%

    Collar Counties 68% 21% 11%

    West/Northwest Counties 69% 20% 11%

    Central Counties 59% 25% 16%

    Southern Counties 60% 15% 25%

    Democrat 77% 16% 7%

    Republican 71% 18% 11%

    Independent 58% 18% 24%

    Male 63% 21% 16%

    Female 71% 16% 13%

    18-29 59% 33% 8%

    30-35 78% 18% 4%

    36-40 73% 15% 12%

    41-49 80% 14% 6%

    50-55 81% 10% 9%

    56-64 70% 11% 19%

    Over 65 60% 22% 18%

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement..."Gay and Lesbian people should have equal rights in terms of job opportunities and housing" ASK: WOULD THAT BE

STRONGLY AGREE/ DISAGREE OR JUST SOMEWHAT AGREE/DISAGREE?

Agree Disagree Don’t Know

Cook County 91% 5% 4%

Collar Counties 85% 7% 8%

West/Northwest Counties 80% 7% 13%

Central Counties 77% 14% 9%

Southern Counties 77% 13% 10%

Democrat 94% 4% 2%

Republican 79% 12% 9%

Independent 79% 9% 12%

Male 82% 11% 7%

Female 83% 4% 11%

18-29 97% 3% 0%

30-35 90% 8% 2%

36-40 92% 4% 4%

41-49 92% 5% 3%

50-55 85% 8% 7%

56-64 83% 6% 11%

Over 65 76% 12% 12%

The Glengariff Group ,Inc. conducted a 600 sample, random digit dial survey of registered Illinois voters on December 13-14, 2004. The margin of error for this survey is +/-4%. Numbers may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

About the Pollster:

 The Glengariff Group, Inc. is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois with offices in St Joseph, Michigan. The company specializes in survey research, focus groups, strategic planning, and marketing strategy. The Glengariff Group, Inc. has worked for such varied clients as General Motors, Comcast Corporation, Fifth Third Bank, the State of Michigan, the State of North Carolina, Northwestern University and the Medical College of Ohio. The Glengariff Group, Inc. conducts research nationwide, regionally, statewide and locally primarily for corporate and public sector clients.

Richard Czuba, President of the Glengariff Group, Inc., has 21 years of survey research experience both in politics and the corporate sector. He was the Director of Research and Communications for the Michigan Republican Party under then Party Chairman, Spencer Abraham, Advisor to Michigan Governor John Engler for Research and Planning, and Director of Planning and Public Affairs for the State of Michigan’s economic development department, the Michigan Jobs Commission. He was Inauguration Chairman for Michigan Governor John Engler. Richard Czuba has conducted political survey research for all levels of political campaigns including county and local races, state legislative races, congressional races, statewide campaigns and statewide research for Presidential campaigns.

The Glengariff Group, Inc. has been in operation since 1998.