Public Attitudes To Section 28

Tuesday 01 February 2000

  • MORI interviewed 1,007 British adults aged 18+
  • Interviews were conducted by telephone on 25-27 January 2000
  • Based on all unless otherwise stated
  • Data are weighted to the known population profile
  • An '*' indicates a finding of less than 0.5%, but greater than zero
  • Voting intention figures exclude those who would not vote, are undecided or refuse to name a party.
  • Poll conducted by MORI on behalf of the Daily Mail.

Q1 The Government is planning to end the law (known as Section or Clause 28) which bans local authorities from promoting homosexuality in schools. Which one of the following two statements comes closest to your own view:

 %
The ban should remain and schools should not be allowed to promote homosexuality54
The ban should end and schools should be free to
decide whether to promote homosexuality
39
Don't know7

Q2 I am going to read out a list of possible sources of information. Which if any, do you think should teach children about homosexuality?

 %
Teachers37
Family73
Friends19
Doctors25
TV, newspapers and magazines15
Other2
None of these/no-one6
Don't know3

Q3 If secondary schools are to be allowed to promote homosexuality, which of the following options would you prefer them to do:

 %
Teach children that homosexuality is wrong
and should not be tolerated as a way of life
12
Teach children that homosexuality is wrong,
but should be tolerated as a way of life
17
Teach children that homosexuality is neither
right nor wrong, and should be tolerated as
a way of life
65
Don't know6

Q4 Do you think that homosexual relationships are more or less acceptable than heterosexual relationships or are they the same?

 %
More4
Less49
About the same38
Don't know / No opinion8
Net more-45

Q5 And do you think that schools should place more, less or about the same emphasis on marriage between men and women as on homosexual relationships?

 %
More52
Less13
About the same23
Don't know / No opinion11
Net more+39

Q6 The Government is committed to reducing the age of consent for homosexuals from 18 to 16. Do you think this policy is right or wrong?

 %
Right27
Wrong66
Don't know / No opinion8
Net right-38

I am going to read out a number of statements some people have made. For each one, please tell me whether you agree or disagree …

Q7 Gay couples form an important part of society

 March 1999 MoSJan 2000 Daily Mail
 %%
Agree4245
Disagree4241
Neither/nor109
Don't know / No opinion65
Net agree0% +4

Q8 Gay couples should be allowed to get married

 %
Agree45
Disagree46
Neither/nor4
Don't know / No opinion5
Net agree-1

Q9 Gay couples should be allowed to adopt children

 March 1999 MoSJan 2000 Daily Mail
 %%
Agree3033
Disagree5755
Neither/nor67
Don't know / No opinion75
Net agree-27-22

Q10 The Government should do more to ensure that gay relationships are accepted

 March 1999 MoSJan 2000 Daily Mail
 %%
Agree4143
Disagree4744
Neither/nor67
Don't know / No opinion65
Net agree-6-1

Q11 Gay couples and heterosexual couples are equally suitable to adopt children

 %
Agree31
Disagree59
Neither/nor5
Don't know / No opinion4
Net agree-28

Ipsos MORI contacts

Search centre