(Des Moines, Iowa) Two weeks before the Iowa Supreme Court hears arguments in a challenge to the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, a new poll indicates a majority of people in the state support gay couples, but are divided on whether they should be allowed to marry or have civil unions.

The University of Iowa poll found that 28.1 percent of those surveyed support same-sex marriage, while another 30.2 percent support civil unions, but not marriage. A third of those questioned oppose any recognition of same-sex couples, with about 10 percent having no opinion or refusing to answer.

The poll of 586 residents across the state was taken just prior to this month’s general election.

The Iowa Supreme Court will hear arguments Dec. 9 in a case involving six same-sex couples fighting for the right to marry. The lawsuit says state law limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples violates gay people’s rights to due process and equal protection established in the Iowa Constitution.

The court said that both sides will be given 30 minutes to make their arguments.

Last year, Polk County Judge Robert Hanson struck down the state’s Defense of Marriage law, declaring it to be unconstitutional.

Less than two hours after the the ruling, two Des Moines men applied for a marriage license, found a judge to waive the waiting period and were married.

Hanson then stayed his ruling until the state could appeal it to the Iowa Supreme Court. The marriage of Sean Fritz and Tim McQuillan remains the only legal same-sex marriage in Iowa.

In a separate case, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in January that co-adoptions by same-sex parents were legal.

The case involved a lesbian couple who had split up. While they were together, one partner had adopted the children of her partner. When the relationship ended, the birth mother asked a court if the other woman had visitation rights and could be compelled to pay child support.

A lower court ruled that co-adoptions by same-sex couples were illegal and threw out the case. The Supreme Court disagreed and ordered the lower court to revisit the case.

The issue of gay marriage has prompted Republicans and socially conservative groups to press for an amendment to the state constitution to limit marriage to opposite-sex couples.

Democrats who control the legislature have thwarted GOP demands they take up the proposed amendment.

To amend the Iowa Constitution, simple majorities are needed in both the House and Senate in two consecutive general assemblies and then it must be approved by a simple majority of voters in the following general election.

The UI poll released Wednesday found that if the Supreme Court rules in favor of gay marriage 35.4 percent of Iowans would accept the decision.

But another 27 percent said that if the court allows same-sex marriage, the legislature should move forward with a ban on gay marriage, but allow civil unions. Nearly 29 percent said they would support an amendment banning both gay marriage and civil unions and nearly 10 percent had no opinion or refused to answer.