Region of residence. Southerners are more heterosexist than non-Southerners (see part d ofFigure 5.3 "Correlates of Heterosexism (Percentage Saying That Same-Sex Relations Are “Always Wrong”)").
Religion. Religious people are considerably more heterosexist than less religious people (see part e of Figure 5.3 "Correlates of Heterosexism (Percentage Saying That Same-Sex Relations Are “Always Wrong”)").
Figure 5.3 Correlates of Heterosexism (Percentage Saying That Same-Sex Relations Are “Always Wrong”)
Source: Data from General Social Survey. (2010). Retrieved fromhttp://sda.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/hsda?harcsda+gss10. The age difference in heterosexism is perhaps particularly interesting. Many studies find that young people—those younger than 30—are especially accepting of homosexuality and of same-sex marriage. As older people, who have more negative views, pass away, it is likely that public opinion as a whole will become more accepting of homosexuality and issues related to it. Scholars think this trend will further the legalization of same-sex marriage and the establishment of other laws and policies that will reduce the discrimination and inequality that the LGBT community experiences (Gelman, Lax, & Phillips, 2010). [3]
