The pace of acceptance is dramatic, as people shed past prejudice in record numbers.
Back in 2008, the Field poll found that 51 percent of Californians supported gay marriage, with 42 opposed. However, the anti-gay marriage Prop 8 passed 52-47. Gay marriage always polls better than it performs at the polls—either a function of social pressure (opponents know they're bigots and don't want to admit it to pollsters), or a function of turnout models. (The strongest supporters of gay marriage—young voters—are also the least likely to turn out.)
Still, with numbers like these, gay marriage would pass in California by referendum today. It won't happen this year, as equality forces are focused on the legal case winding its way through the 9th Circuit (good luck getting five pro-votes at the Roberts Supreme Court). But the trends aren't going to reverse by the time 2014 rolls around. Gay marriage in California is inevitable.
But also encouraging are the crosstabs:
What's notable is that some of the more significant gains in support came from Catholics, Latinos and older voters - part of the core of support for voter-approved Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot measure that defined marriage as between a man and a woman [...]
[T]he survey found that 65 percent of nonwhites under 40 - most of them Latino - support same-sex marriage. Fifty percent of nonwhites over 40 oppose same-sex marriage, DiCamillo said.
Four years ago, 64 percent of Catholic voters supported Prop. 8, according to exit polls. But Field's latest survey found that 51 percent of Catholics support same-sex marriage.
The only demographic that matters anymore is age. Percent approving of gay marriage:
18-39: 69%
40-63: 59%
65+: 45%
In California, like pretty much anywhere else, it's a waiting game. The best ally marriage equality ever had is our mortality.