"It’s best not to discuss sexual orientation": an examination of strategic sexuality blindfolding beliefs

A vast literature has examined difference-blind ideologies in the domain of race (i.e., beliefs that to promote intergroup harmony, society should reduce discussion of race and racial differences), but a parallel ideology regarding beliefs about discussing sexual orientation has yet to be explored. Across three studies, the present dissertation documents correlates of difference-blind sexual orientation beliefs (i.e., referred to in this dissertation as Strategic Sexuality Blindfolding; SSB), and explored perceptions of SSB endorsement among LGBTQ (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) and heterosexual participants. Results indicated two dimensions of SSB (i.e., label evasion and discussion avoidance) which have their own distinct predictive power on beliefs about LGBQ equality and in predicting LGBQ attitudes. Specifically, across two samples of cisgender heterosexual respondents (Study 1) label evasion endorsement (i.e., desires to reduce sexual orientation categorization) were associated with more support of LGBQ equity and positive LGBQ attitudes, while discussion avoidance endorsement predicted the opposite. In Study 2, perceiver sexual orientation effects emerged in ratings of targets who espouse the different SSB ideologies, suggesting that heterosexual respondents perceive the ideologies as less indicative of threat when compared to LGBTQ participants. Study 3 highlights that both SSB ideologies in organizational settings are perceived as indicating discomfort with LGBTQ people and low support for LGBTQ employees when compared to a control. Importantly, both SSB dimensions promoted low feelings of anticipated belonging among LGBTQ participants and increased desires to keep one’s sexual orientation concealed. In sum, the present dissertation critiques the seemingly egalitarian nature of SSB beliefs and provides evidence that LGBTQ participants view SSB ideologies as indicating poor LGBTQ allyship and hostile settings for LGBTQ people to be out about their identities with implications on LGBTQ populations’ health and well-being.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical reference