The Relationship of Homonegativity to LGBT Students' and Non-LGBT Students' Perceptions of Residence Hall Climate

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between students'—both LGBT and non-LGBT—perceived levels of homonegativity (negative attitudes toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals) and their perceptions of the climate and community in college and university residence halls. The study group consisted of 284 current undergraduate students at a large Midwestern research university who completed a brief instrument measuring student perceptions of residence hall climate (social support, group cohesiveness, conflict, personalization, safety, noise, cleanliness, and crowding) and another measuring student perceptions of homonegativity levels in residence halls. Negative correlations were found to exist for all students, not just the LGBT students, between higher levels of homonegativity and student satisfaction with their residence hall climate. In addition, heterosexuals who self-identified as affirming of LGBT students were evaluated to establish whether their responses were more like those of the LGBT students or the non-affirming heterosexuals. The literature suggests that affirming heterosexuals should resemble the LGBT sample; however, data from this study suggest otherwise