File photo The younger generation appears to be leading the way in the increasing level of open-mindedness and acceptance towards gay and lesbian New Zealanders. Another poll has found New Zealanders increasingly believe gay couples should be able to adopt, as well as a drop in the percentage of people who believe being gay is “immoral”. The latest Roy Morgan Research “State of the Nation” Report shows 56 per cent of New Zealanders surveyed believe same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children, a jump from 38 per cent eight years ago. While 26 per cent of people stated they believe “homosexuality is immoral”, that’s a drop from 35 per cent over the same eight year time period. The figures come from an annual poll of approximately 11,500 New Zealanders. Head of Roy Morgan New Zealand Pip Elliott says New Zealanders are now more accepting of gay people than ever before. “The age group driving this trend are those under the age of 50. In fact, only 41 per cent of New Zealanders aged 50+ support homosexual couples adopting children (compared to the national average of 56 per cent) and 32 per cent believe homosexuality is immoral (compared to the national average of 26 per cent),” Elliott says. “This more progressive attitude towards homosexuality is consistent with a decrease over this period in the belief that ‘the fundamental values of our society are under serious threat,’ which has declined from 66 per cent ten years ago down to 59 per cent currently.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 1st July 2012 - 2:55pm