Britain has become much more tolerant of same-sex relationships since the 1980s. But a sizeable minority of the public, about a quarter to a third, remains hostile and there are big variations between various groups.

Women are significantly more tolerant than men; Liberal Democrat and Labour voters than Tories; and under-35s as opposed to over-55s; and especially over-65s. All but the latter agree that gay couples should have the same rights as others.

A new Populus poll for The Times, undertaken to mark the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, provides a snapshot of attitudes now with most groups on balance tolerant (for more details see www.populus.co.uk).

However, some respondents, espeically men, still seem uncomfortable discussing the issue, even in an anonymous telephone poll. Four per cent say they have had a same-sex sexual experience, which is much less than general estimates of the proportion of gays among adults. Women are more likely than men to say they have an openly gay person both in their immediate family (by 15 to 9 per cent) and their close circle of friends (by 48 to 37 per cent).

Current views are, on balance, more tolerant than in the past. For instance, since January 2005, the number agreeing that gay couples should have exactly the same rights as heterosexual couples has risen from 65 to 68 per cent; the number disagreeing is down from 31 to 27 per cent.

It is hard to make direct comparisons because of changes in the wording of questions. But the trends are similar. An Ipsos MORI poll in March 1999 found 37 per cent in favour of gay people being allowed to adopt, with 57 per cent opposed whereas, now, 49 per cent agree that gay couples should have the same rights to adopt as heterosexual couples, with 47 per cent disagreeing. This reveals the closest split, followed by a 51 to 44 per cent balance on whether children should be taught in schools that gay relationships are exactly equal in status to heterosexual relationships. Another Ipsos MORI poll in January 2000 found an even split about whether gay couples should be allowed to get married. Populus now finds a near two to one majority (61 to 33 per cent) backing the slightly different proposition that gay couples should have an equal right to get married, not just to have civil partnerships.

The ambiguities in public attitudes are brought out by asking about responses to their children coming out as gay. Forty-one per cent say they would embrace it, while 45 per cent say would feel upset but try to understand and come to terms with it. Just under a tenth (9 per cent) would not accept it and would reject the child. Again, older people would be most hostile.

The longstanding British Social Attitudes survey shows that the number thinking that homosexuality is always or mostly wrong fell from 75 per cent in 1987 to 32 per cent in 2006. This big change has not been matched by a similar shift in attitudes towards immigrants or the poor, which has remained about 30 per cent. The anti-gay prejudice has dropped to this level, still leaving a sizeable minority hostile to those different from themselves, whether in colour or sexual preference.

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