An increasing number of African Americans are supporting gay marriage, according to recent polls.

A Pew Research Center survey conducted last month found that 44 percent of blacks favor same-sex marriage, up 8 percent from last year.

On Election Day, a national exit poll by Edison Research revealed that 51 percent of black voters support making gay marriage legal in their states, while only 41 percent oppose it.

African Americans traditionally have held more conservative views on the subject. President Obama publicly expressed his support for gay marriage earlier this year.