Heterosexuals' attitudes toward lesbians and gay men: Correlates and gender differences

TLDR

The study investigates how heterosexuals differ in attitudes toward gay people, emphasizing gender differences and exploring how variables such as religiosity and social norms shape these attitudes while suggesting future research directions. Researchers conducted three university student studies and developed the Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men (ATLG) scale, which was then validated. Results show that heterosexual males exhibit more hostile attitudes than females, especially toward gay men, and that religiosity, traditional family and gender ideologies, perceived peer agreement, and prior interactions with LGBTQ individuals underlie attitudes toward both gay men and lesbians.

Abstract

This paper discusses the basis for differences among heterosexuals in their reactions to gay people, with special emphasis on the issue of gender differences. Three studies conducted with students at six different universities revealed a consistent tendency for heterosexual males to express more hostile attitudes than heterosexual females, especially toward gay men. The same social psychological variables appear to underlie both males' and females' attitudes toward both gay men and lesbians: religiosity, adherence to traditional ideologies of family and gender, perception of friends' agreement with one's own attitudes, and past interactions with lesbians and gay men. The role of these variables in shaping attitudes is discussed and areas for future research are proposed. Construction and validation of the Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men (ATLG) scale are also described.