| Abstract: | Two studies were conducted in which gender of respondent, label of target (lesbian/gay or homosexual), sex of target, format t of questionnaire and participants' reference groups (operationally defined by the sexual orientation of the couple in a dating scenario presented before assessing attitudes toward lesbians and gay men) were manipulated to determine their effect on attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. In the first study, depending on which scale was used, label of lesbian target, sex of target and gender of respondent were significantly related to homophobia. Attitudes toward AIDS were significantly correlated with homophobia. In the second study, gender of respondent was significant, and there was a significant gender of respondent by format of questionnaire interaction. The sexual orientation of the couple in the dating scenario did not significantly affect attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. In both studies religious involvement related significantly to homophobia. Implications of these results are discussed. |
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