Only 5 percent said they were undecided about the measure, which is sponsored by the conservative Oregon Citizens Alliance and opposed by gay-rights groups in and outside Oregon. The poll's margin of error is 4 percentage points, plus or minus. Beyond the close overall numbers, the results exposed sharp differences over the issue based on gender, geography and political party. The typical supporter is a Republican man who lives outside the Portland area. The typical opponent is a Democratic woman who resides in the Portland area.
Opponents say it undermines tolerance and respect.
The OCA has sponsored three previous ballot measures limiting gay rights. Voters approved only one - a 1988 measure repealing Gov. Neil Goldschmidt's ban on state government discrimination toward gays. Lon Mabon, chairman of the OCA, said two factors are behind this year's support. One is increasing awareness of gay activism in schools, he said. The other is the measure's scope, which is narrower than previous OCA attacks on homosexuality.