Antecedents and consequences of LGBT individuals’ perceptions of straight allyship.

Abstract

People often self-identify as allies to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. This research examined on what basis LGBT individuals perceive others to be allies and documents the consequences of perceived allyship. Studies 1a (n = 40) and 1b (n = 69) collected open-ended descriptions of allyship provided by LGBT participants. Coding of the responses suggested multiple components to being an ally: (a) being nonprejudiced toward the group, (b) taking action against discrimination and inequality, and (c) having humility about one's perspective in discussions about LGBT issues. In Studies 2a (n = 161) and 2b (n = 319, with nationally representative characteristics), an allyship scale was developed and validated for general and specific relational contexts, respectively. Study 2b also showed that LGBT individuals' perceptions of close others' allyship were positively associated with their own well-being and relationship quality with the close other. Study 3, an experiment, demonstrated that nonprejudice and action had an interactive effect on perceived allyship, such that action increased perceived allyship more when prejudice was low (vs. high). Study 4 was a weekly experience study of LGBT participants and an outgroup roommate. Perceiving one's roommate to be a good ally predicted higher self-esteem, greater subjective well-being, and better relationship quality with the roommate, both between and within participants. Furthermore, perceived allyship in 1 week was associated with increases in LGBT individuals' mental health and relationship quality with the roommate the following week. This research advances knowledge about what allyship means to LGBT individuals and identifies intra-and interpersonal benefits of allyship.

Studying personality and social structure

“…They are also more likely to seek friends and acquaintances who differ in racial and ethnic background from themselves ( selection ; Antonoplis & John, 2022; Laakasuo et al., 2017). The friends of open‐minded individuals tend to accurately perceive them as open‐minded ( evocation ; Connelly & Ones, 2010), and the friends who are racially minoritized may be more likely to perceive open‐minded individuals as allies in the fight against racism because of their non‐prejudice, empathy, and intellectual humility ( evocation ; Bettencourt, 2020; Chen et al., 2023; Ostrove & Brown, 2018; Warren & Bordoloi, 2021). These racially minoritized friends are also more likely to prefer collective forms of power and political action (Belmi & Laurin, 2016; Kraus & Torrez, 2020) and may be happier when they perceive their friends as allies (Chen et al., 2023).…”

“…The friends of open‐minded individuals tend to accurately perceive them as open‐minded ( evocation ; Connelly & Ones, 2010), and the friends who are racially minoritized may be more likely to perceive open‐minded individuals as allies in the fight against racism because of their non‐prejudice, empathy, and intellectual humility ( evocation ; Bettencourt, 2020; Chen et al., 2023; Ostrove & Brown, 2018; Warren & Bordoloi, 2021). These racially minoritized friends are also more likely to prefer collective forms of power and political action (Belmi & Laurin, 2016; Kraus & Torrez, 2020) and may be happier when they perceive their friends as allies (Chen et al., 2023). Moreover, individuals with more racial and ethnic minority friends are more likely to support engaging in high‐cost collective actions, such as protest, to reduce inequality for marginalized groups ( socialization ; Hässler et al., 2020).…”

Insights from a transgender student in the EFL classroom: from individual perspective to institutional change

“…If today there is an aggressive spirit of making the trans community visible, it may have been summoned by the apparently complete triumph of its antithesis. This collective has been protractedly repressed by a hegemonic cisheteronormativity; nonetheless, recent accounts are evidencing a readjustment in most ideologies across cultures, aiming at increasing the visibility of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersexual, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) collective (Currier, 2012; see also Chen et al, 2023). The limitedness of representing this community in the field of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) leads to the purpose of this study.…”