The triumph of the marriage-equality movement after 2015's landmark ruling was often linked to a rapid shift in public comfort. However, new analysis reveals this common narrative overlooks a critical disconnect.

Data & Methods: Examining General Social Survey data from 2015 showing stark contrasts between approval of same-sex marriage and disapproval of sexual relationships.

Key Findings: The study demonstrates that while 56% supported legalizing same-sex marriage, 51% still viewed the sexual aspect as wrong at least some of the time. This challenges the notion that persuasion stemmed from uniform attitude change.

Why It Matters: Activists reframed the debate by introducing resonant arguments about rights and equality, shifting public meaning rather than solely relying on changing underlying attitudes toward gay sex.

The article argues this reframing altered the decisional context for policy preferences. By inserting new criteria into political discourse, activists successfully changed how people perceived the issue, leading to support despite persistent disapproval of same-sex sexual activity.