Homophobia and conservative religion: Toward a more nuanced understanding.

Abstract

The failure of homophobia scales to consider the normative assumptions of religious communities may result in findings that are less useful in addressing this problem. In this study, 155 undergraduate students at a Christian university were surveyed, separately assessing attitudes toward celibate versus sexually active homosexual men and women. Results of multiple regression analyses found that participants who emphasized a person-behavior distinction (an accepted tenet of conservative religious ideology) held more negative attitudes toward lesbian women than those who were comparatively more accepting and did not emphasize such a distinction. However, participants who emphasized the person-behavior distinction held more positive attitudes toward gay men than those who were comparatively more rejecting and did not emphasize such a distinction. These relationships were significant even after accounting for variance attributable to general measures of religious commitment. Attempts to reduce homophobia within conservative religious communities may benefit from a more sensitive approach to their belief systems.

Withstand or succumb : Christian universities and the implications of Obergefell v. Hodges

“…The study found a strong correlation between religious fundamentalism and these attitudes. Similar to other studies (Rosik, Griffith, & Cruz, 2007;Wolff et al, 2012), there was little gender difference in student perceptions of homosexuality.…”

“…Universities affiliated with such denominations are likely to reflect similar values (Wentz & Wessel, 2011). Results from the Rosik et al (2007) study confirm that sexual behavior is more relevant than sexual orientation, with some students capable of making "a meaningful distinction between the value of homosexual persons and the value of their sexual behavior" (p.16). Students at religious universities who experience SSA also make a distinction between identity and behavior.…”

“…Negative attitudes at religious universities show little gender difference (LaFave et al, 2014;Rosik et al, 2007;Wolff et al, 2012) in contrast to national studies where men are generally more negative than women (Eagly, Diekman, Johannesen-Schmidt, & Koenig, 2004).…”

“…As the perception on the morality of homosexual activity in society at large continues to shift, it is possible that religious conservatives may become the last group that holds consistent negative beliefs related to homosexual individuals (Rosik et al, 2007). Although advocates for the LGBT community may decry this stance, conservative Christian students, including those who experience SSA, desire to be part of a community that shares their religious convictions.…”

Childhood Exposure to Religions With High Prevalence of Members Who Discourage Homosexuality Is Associated With Adult HIV Risk Behaviors and HIV Infection in Black Men Who Have Sex With Men

“…A. Wilson, Wittlin, MunozLaboy, & Parker, 2011). Religions with punitive, fundamentalist doctrines are associated with increased homophobia (Balkin, Schlosser, & Levitt, 2009;Rosik, Griffith, & Cruz, 2007;Miller, 2007;Ward, 2005). There are at least three separate studies reporting that MSM's exposure to these types of religious environments have been associated with development of internalized homophobia (Barnes & Meyer, 2012;Pitt, 2009;Wilkerson, Smolenski, Brady, & Rosser, 2012).…”