Attitudes towards lesbians and gay men: a university survey

M.A.This study posits that although the South African government has shown an unprecedented commitment to acknowledging and upholding the human rights of lesbians and gay men, negative attitudes exist towards lesbians and gay men in university communities. A survey of 880 heterosexual students (356 men and 524 women) in a university community was conducted using the Attitudes Towards Lesbian and Gay Male Scale (ATLG). The results indicate that heterosexual students have negative attitudes towards lesbians and gay men, that religiosity has an influence on attitudes, that contact with lesbians or gay men reduces negative attitudes, and no differences exist between race groups with regards to attitudes towards lesbians and gay men. Furthermore, South African students at the University of Johannesburg have different attitudes towards lesbians and gay men compared to students at a university in the United States of America. South African heterosexual male students at the University of Johannesburg have more negative attitudes towards lesbians and gay men than students than heterosexual male students at a university in America, whilst South African heterosexual female students have more positive attitudes towards lesbians and gay men than their American counterparts. The results are discussed against the background of previous studies, and suggestions for future research are made.Prof. G.P. de Bruin Dr. I. van der Merw