Unveiling homophobia: A study of attitudes in Serbian society

Abstract

The main goal of this study is to analyse attitudes towards gays and lesbians in Serbia, as well as across the broader region and Europe. Conclusions regarding homophobia are drawn from data gathered through several empirical studies, namely: the ninth and tenth rounds of the European Social Survey (ESS), conducted in 2018 and 2021, and three surveys conducted by the Institute for Sociological Research in 2003, 2012, and 2018. Comprehensive research material allows for the tracking of changes in attitudes within Serbia over the past two decades (2003-2021). In the first part, we address contextual factors related to the legal and social position of the LGBTIQ population in Serbia. This part also includes various measurement instruments and definitions used in studies since the 1980s, concerning different types of negative attitudes (prejudices) towards lesbians and gay men. In the second part, we present data for Serbia as well as comparative data on homophobia across the region and Europe. As hypothesised, research results show that significant levels of homophobia persist over time, with no considerable changes in two decades. We believe that this paper will make a meaningful contribution to research on attitudes towards LGBTIQ in Serbia and the region by offering a comparative perspective, thus addressing a gap in the study of homophobia in post-socialist countries.