A new poll from CNN out today finds nearly 80% of respondents support the right of gays to serve openly in the U.S. military.

“A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Tuesday indicates that 78 percent of the public supports allowing openly gay people to serve in the military, with one in five opposed,” the CNN report states.

“Support is widespread, even among Republicans. Nearly six in ten Republicans favor allowing openly gay individuals to serve in the military,” CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said in the story. “There is a gender gap, with 85 percent of women and 71 percent of men favoring the change, but support remains high among both groups.”

It adds that: “The poll's release comes just hours after Congressional Democrats reached an agreement Monday with the White House and possibly the Pentagon on a key legislative step toward repealing the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy that bars openly gay soldiers from the military.”