Question

Review the graph, which shows public support in the United States for same-sex marriage. An infographic titled Public Support for Same-Sex Marriage. Percent who blank allowing gay men and lesbians to marry legally. A number line goes from year 2004 to 2019. A line labeled Oppose decrease from 60 in 2004 to 31 in 2019. A line labeled Favor increases from 31 in 2004 to 61 in 2019. A vertical dotted line in 2015 is labeled Same-sex marriage Supreme court decision. What most likely happened between 2009 and 2014 that influenced public opinion on same-sex marriage? A Supreme Court decision showed people that same-sex marriage should be accepted. Advocates convinced more people that they should support others’ right to marry. More LGBTQ+ Americans reached the age when they wanted to get married. The idea of marriage became more appealing to people from all groups.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the given graph, it is evident that between 2009 and 2014, there was a significant increase in public support for same-sex marriage. In 2009, around 42% of Americans favored same-sex marriage, and in 2014, this number had increased to around 55%.

The vertical dotted line in 2015 labeled "Same-sex marriage Supreme court decision" suggests that the Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide played a significant role in influencing public opinion. However, this decision was made in 2015 and therefore cannot account for the increase in public support between 2009 and 2014.

Therefore, it is more likely that during this period, advocates of same-sex marriage were successful in convincing more people to support others' right to marry. This could be attributed to various factors such as increased visibility and representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in media and politics, education campaigns about the importance of equal rights, and cultural shifts towards more acceptance and inclusivity.

In summary, while the Supreme Court decision in 2015 may have further solidified public support for same-sex marriage, the increase in support between 2009 and 2014 was likely due to successful advocacy efforts to convince more people to support others' right to marry.