Line graph. Americans’ views on whether same-sex marriages should be legal, with the same rights as traditional marriages, 1996-2023 trend. In 2023, 71% (tied for the trend high with 2022) believe same-sex marriages should be legal, while 28% say they should not be. The current numbers are almost exactly the opposite of what they were at the beginning of the trend. In 1996, 68% of Americans said same-sex marriages should not be legally valid, and 27% said they should be. With a few exceptions, notably in 2005 and 2019 (when slightly more than the previous year said same-sex marriages should not be legally valid, and slightly less said they should be valid), the trend has moved steadily in the direction of legality for same-sex marriages. In May 2011, for the first time, a majority (53%) said such marriages should be legal, and since November 2012, this has been the majority view. Views in 2023 are unchanged for both responses from 2022.