More Americans than ever before support same-sex marriage, polls conducted over the past week show.

In a Washington Post-ABC News poll released Wednesday, 53 percent of those questioned said gay marriage should be legal – a new high for the poll.

In a Fox News poll, 70 percent of respondents pledged their support for legal recognition – either marriage or civil unions – for same-sex couples.

And a Reuters poll also shows increased support for same-sex marriage, especially among African-American respondents.

The shift follows President Obama’s announcement, during an interview with ABC’s Robin Roberts on 09 May, that he supports marriage equality for all Americans.

At the time, gay rights groups predicted his announcement would have a far-reaching impact on public opinion – a prediction that now seems to be justified.

The Human Rights Campaign’s Fred Sainz says, “By speaking in very personal terms about his own journey, the president has helped to build a larger and stronger majority in support of full equality for committed gay and lesbian couples.”