Over 50% Americans support same sex marriage: Poll

Over 50% of Americans support same sex marriage and believe it should be recognised as valid in law, according to a poll.

According to the poll conducted by CNN, 51% respondents said that same sex marriage should be made legal, while 47% said they should not be legally recognised and 2% had no opinion.

The survey, which included 824 adult respondents, came as US congressional leaders have been sparring over the Defense of Marriage Act, the 1996 law that bans recognition of same-sex marriage, The Washington Post reported.

The poll also revealed that 64% of democrats and 55% of independents believe same-sex marriages should be legally recognised, while 71% of Republicans say they should not.

Also, 67% of self-described tea party supporters said that same sex-marriages should not be legally recognised, according to the poll.