NEW YORK — A majority of Americans (57 percent) favors allowing gay and lesbian couples to enter into legal agreements that would give them many of the same rights as married couples, a status commonly known as civil unions. Only 37 percent oppose the idea, according to the results of an August survey conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.Ninety-four percent of those who support civil unions also support same-sex marriage, down one percent from one year ago.

Conducted Aug. 11-27 among 4,013 U.S. adults, the survey findings appear to continue a significant long-term trend since the question first was asked in 2003, when support for civil unions stood at 45 percent.

However, opponents of using the term “marriage” for same-sex unions continue to outnumber supporters. The term provoked a negative answer among 53 percent of respondents, compared to 39 percent who voiced approval.

Even those morally opposed to homosexuality appear to be changing their minds about the legal status of same-sex couples, though. According to the Pew poll, 49 percent of Americans believe homosexuality is morally wrong, 9 percent say it is acceptable and 35 percent don’t consider sexuality a moral issue. Across all groups, women are equally divided on the issue of same-sex marriage, with 43 percent favoring it and 48 percent opposed. Men, on the other hand, overwhelmingly oppose gay marriage: 59 percent voiced opposition, compared to 34 percent who voiced approval. African-Americans represent the largest opposing faction at 66 percent, compared to 52 percent of Caucasians and 49 percent of Hispanics.

Most significant about the study is growth in support for civil unions among those who oppose same-sex marriage. The word “marriage” appears to be the crux of the issue for many. Over the past year, support for same-sex civil unions grew among those who oppose gay marriage, regardless their moral position. In August 2009, 30 percent of the respondents opposed to marriage favored civil unions, up from 24 percent one year earlier. Among those who favor same-sex marriage, the percentage also supportive of civil unions remained stable at 39 percent.

Opposition to same-sex marriage appears to lessen with education and increase with age. Fifty-nine percent of respondents who did not continue their education beyond high school oppose same-sex marriage, compared to 51 percent of those who at least attended college and 43 percent of those with college degrees. The strongest supporters of same-sex marriage are 18-29 (58 percent); the weakest 65 and older (22 percent favor and 67 percent oppose). On the issue of civil unions, 70 percent of college grads voiced support, compared to 47 percent of those with a high school education or less.

As might be expected, 81 percent of those who identified themselves as conservative Republicans voiced disapproval for same-sex marriage. The term “marriage” offended 47 percent of self-identified independents and only 24 percent of self-professed liberal Democrats. On the other hand, 43 percent of conservative Republicans favor civil unions, compared to 63 percent of independents and 76 percent of liberal Democrats.

Religious affiliation also plays a role. Eighty-five percent of white evangelical Protestants who attend church services at least weekly said they oppose same-sex marriage; 29 percent said they could support civil unions. White, non-Hispanic Catholics are nearly evenly divided on the marriage issue, while 67 percent support civil unions, and 60 percent of those who reported themselves as “unaffiliated” favor same-sex marriage compared to 68 percent who support civil unions.

Support for same-sex marriage is strongest in the West, where 47 percent of respondents favor the idea and 47 percent oppose it. Respondents in the East are similarly split, with 45 percent in favor and 45 percent opposed. In the Midwest, the figures are 38 percent and 54 percent, respectively, and in the South, 31 percent and 60 percent.

Advocates of same-sex marriage are divided over the best way to pursue its legalization: 45 percent favor pushing hard to legalize marriage as soon as possible, while 42 percent prefer a gentler approach because pushing too aggressively could create a backlash against gays and lesbians.

The report, including an executive summary, methodology and topline questionnaire, is available online.