Examining Attitudes Toward College Students with Minority Sexual Orientations

ABSTRACT

This qualitative study combined descriptive written instruments and focus group data to investigate heterosexual college students' current attitudes toward gay and lesbian peers, a distinctly at-risk population. Overall, participants were generally supportive, but participants felt public pressure to hide or shield the support they felt for gay male and lesbian civil rights and tone down privately held religious views antagonistic to gay males and lesbians. In addition, participants appeared more knowledgeable than they actually were about gay male and lesbian issues. Suggestions and limitations are discussed.

Key Words:

• Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual (GLB) students
• social adjustment to college
• student attitudes and beliefs