The Attitudes of Black and White College Students Toward Gays and Lesbians

Abstract

Despite greater acceptance of gay rights and relationships in recent decades, significant homophobia still exists in the U.S. population. There are consistent demographic differences in levels of homophobia; specifically, men, older persons, less educated persons, and conservatives tend to be more homophobic than women, younger persons, more highly educated persons, and liberals. Additionally, there is a perception that Blacks are more homophobic than Whites, and that this difference is because of the importance of religion in the Black community, another factor frequently associated with homophobic attitudes. This perception has not been empirically tested to any great extent. In the current study of 551 Midwestern college students, both independent t-test results and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis find that there are no significant racial differences between Black and White students in indexes measuring views toward, rights for, and willingness to socialize with gays and lesbians. Gender is a significant predictor of homophobia for both groups, although age and measures for the importance of religion are significant predictors for White students only.

The “Persuadable Middle” on Same-Sex Marriage: Formative Research to Build Support among Heterosexual College Students

“…Compared to previous studies conducted with college students (except the most recent American Freshman Survey; Pryor et al 2010), we find a noticeably higher rate of support for same-sex marriage among our participants. Concomitantly, the percentages of neutral and negative responses in our sample were lower than in previous research (Cluse-Tolar et al 2005;Jenkins et al 2007;Lannutti and Lachlan 2008;Raiz 2006;Swank and Raiz 2010); however, they remain sizeable (neutral, 10.0%; oppose, 22.1%). Characteristics of the "Persuadable Middle"…”

“…Survey items concerning same-sex marriage are sometimes used as part of studies exploring students' perceptions of gay men and lesbian women (Cluse-Tolar et al 2005;Jenkins et al 2007), gay rights (Raiz 2006), or general relationship rights for same-sex couples (Swank and Raiz 2010). Further, existing studies are limited as they engage only undergraduate students (Pryor et al 2010) or survey only students within particular fields, such as social work (Raiz 2006;Swank and Raiz 2010) or communications (Lannutti and Lachlan 2008;Moskowitz et al 2010).…”

“…For example, 65% of the respondents in the 2010 American Freshman Survey supported same-sex marriage (Pryor et al 2010); whereas a recent Gallop Poll found 53% of Americans favor this policy option (Newport 2011). Additionally, college students elect a neutral or unsure response at much higher rates (between 15% and 21%; Cluse-Tolar et al 2005;Jenkins et al 2007;Lannutti and Lachlan 2008;Swank and Raiz 2010) than the general public (<5%; see Avery et al 2007;Brewer and Wilcox 2005), thereby indicating that college students, and younger generations more generally, may also be a particularly persuadable demographic group.…”

Becoming Down Low: A Review of the Literature on Black Men Who Have Sex With Men and Women

“…Four articles highlighted the Black community's disdain for homosexuality and its articulation of hatred and homophobia (Calzo & Ward, 2009;Jenkins, Lambert, & Baker, 2009;Pitt, 2010;Valera & Taylor, 2011). These articles credited religious influences for the backlash directed at homosexuality.…”

“…The phrase often used in Black churches-"hating the sin, but loving the sinner"-also happens to be the title of one of the articles reviewed in this literature review (Valera & Taylor, 2011). Two articles also explained that the general consensus within the Black community was that homosexuality was either an unreligious act or a freak of nature (Calzo & Ward, 2009;Jenkins et al, 2009;Pitt, 2010;Valera & Taylor, 2011). These articles highlighted the Black community's ideological disdain for homosexuality (Calzo & Ward, 2009;Jenkins et al, 2009;Pitt, 2010;Valera & Taylor, 2011).…”