Attitudes toward homosexual activity and gays as friends: A national survey of heterosexual 15‐ to 19‐year‐old males

Heterosexual adolescent males’ negative attitudes toward gays were examined using data from a 1988 national survey of male youth 15 to 19 years of age. Results indicated that the vast majority of young males, 89%, found sex between two men “disgusting,” and only 12% felt confident that they could befriend a gay person. Multivariate analyses revealed, as expected, that respondents with more traditional male role attitudes, a religious fundamentalist orientation, and a parent who had completed fewer years of education were significantly more likely to express homophobic views. However, these models also indicated that homophobic attitudes were not associated with the absence of a religious affiliation, placing greater importance on religion, or frequency of worrying about AIDS. The discussion underscores the importance of conducting future research that will facilitate a better understanding of the processes underlying how young males acquire, maintain, and change their attitudes toward gays.