Gay marriage support growing

New evidence that the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages and civil unions may not be the slam dunk Wisconsin Republicans expected when they put it on the November ballot.

Pew Research Center reports:

Public acceptance of homosexuality has increased in a number of ways in recent years, though it remains a deeply divisive issue. Half of Americans (51%) continue to oppose legalizing gay marriage, but this number has declined significantly from 63% in February 2004, when opposition spiked following the Massachusetts Supreme Court decision and remained high throughout the 2004 election season. Opposition to gay marriage has fallen across the board, with substantial declines even among Republicans.

It's just possible that this will backfire and bring moderates and liberals to the polls, since the real issue here is not even gay marriage -- which is already illegal in Wisconsin -- but banning civil unions and rights and benefits that go with them.

The Wisconsin AFL-CIO has joined the growing list of groups that oppose the amendment.