Heterosexual Allies: A Descriptive Profile

Abstract

Forty-six heterosexual members of a college-based gay/straight alliance organization were surveyed to investigate characteristics of students who commit to acting as allies in reducing sexual prejudice. Assessment focused on the students’ history of intergroup contact and exposure to sexual prejudice prior to joining the gay/straight alliance, endorsement of positive stereotypes and immutability beliefs, perception of the ally role in terms of the potential for stigma by association, and level of intergroup communication apprehension. This study yielded a descriptive profile of heterosexual allies. Discussion addresses implications for recruiting and training members of college gay/straight alliances.

Susan B. Goldstein is professor of Psychology at the University of Redlands. Her research has focused on stigma, study abroad, intercultural attitudes, and strategies for diversifying the psychology curriculum.

Denise S. Davis is the assistant director of the Johnston Center for Integrative Studies at the University of Redlands. She co-founded a Safe Space Allies chapter as a student at the University of Redlands in 2003.

The authors would like to thank Sean Massey, N. Eugene Walls, and the anonymous reviewers for their helpful feedback on this manuscript.

Notes

1. The use of the abbreviations LGB and LGBT in this article varies depending on the content of particular studies and measures.

2. These organizations are increasingly labeled queer/straight alliances (QSAs) on college campuses.