Washington, Apr 29 : Over 50 percent of Americans support same sex marriage and believe it should be recognized as valid in law, according to a poll.

According to the poll conducted by CNN, 51 percent respondents said that same sex marriage should be made legal, while 47 percent say they should not be legally recognized and two percent 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 reports.

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

Also, 67 percent of self-described tea party supporters say same sex-marriages should not be legally recognized, according to the poll. (ANI)