A new Gallup poll finds that half of Americans now support marriage for same-sex couples.

This figure is a slight decrease from the 53 percent of Americans who backed nuptials for gays and lesbians in a 2011 survey. Gallup noted that the 2012 poll is only the second time that a majority of Americans who had been asked about marriage supported the right of same-sex couples to tie the knot.

The poll comes against the backdrop of Vice President Joe Biden and Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s endorsements of marriage for same-sex couples. The White House continues to insist that their comments remain consistent with President Barack Obama’s stance on the issue, but LGBT activists have grown increasingly critical of his failure to publicly support nuptials for gays and lesbians.

Gallup released their survey’s results on the same day that North Carolina voters will consider a proposed state constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between a man and a woman.