'UK more accepting of gay relationships'
Published: 26 January 2010
Author: Catherine Archer
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Gay culture is more accepted in today's Britain
British people have become more tolerant of unmarried parents and homosexuality during the past quarter-century, a report has shown.
In 1983, 62% of people said they thought sex between two men or two women was wrong. This figure has now dropped to 36%, according to the British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey.
Co-habiting couples who are not married also attract less condemnation than in previous years, as 45% of respondents said it "makes no difference to children whether their parents are married or just living together". In 1998 only 38% agreed with this.
Report author Andy Ross said: "Changing attitudes reflect a complex combination of factors. In general, we are becoming more liberal and tolerant., but our attitudes are also strongly shaped by what we see in our daily lives.
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"This is why people in their 60s and older have become more tolerant than we might expect about issues like cohabitation.
"Perhaps the personal experience of becoming a grandparent of a child born outside marriage might be leading older people to take a more liberal view on this issue."
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