More N.J. voters in poll support gay marriage

TRENTON - Another poll has indicated that about half of New Jersey voters support allowing gay couples to marry.

In a Quinnipiac University poll released yesterday, 49 percent said they supported gay marriage, and 43 percent said they opposed it. Female and white respondents tended to favor a gay-marriage law, while those who are black, male, or attend religious services weekly were more likely to oppose it. The results were similar to those of a Monmouth University poll in February.

New Jersey lawmakers are likely to consider a gay-marriage bill this year. The state offers same-sex couples civil unions, which offer legal benefits but not the title of marriage.

The Quinnipiac poll of 2,222 registered New Jersey voters was conducted April 14 to Monday and has a sampling error margin of plus or minus 2 percentage points. - AP