Comments on: Gay Marriage And The Contact Hypothesis

By: random stats major

random stats major — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 02:42:09 +0000

The name of the third variable is the “lurking variable”, sometimes statistical terms make so much sense.

By: Spurious « Vincent Gable’s Blog

Spurious « Vincent Gable’s Blog — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:09:38 +0000

[...] –Lisa Wade [...]

By: SELF DEVELOPMENT BLOG » Support for Same-Sex Marriage by Age and State

SELF DEVELOPMENT BLOG » Support for Same-Sex Marriage by Age and State — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:12:23 +0000

[...] more data on support for gay rights, see here and [...]

By: Support for Same-Sex Marriage by Age and State » Sociological Images

Support for Same-Sex Marriage by Age and State » Sociological Images — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:02:39 +0000

[...] more data on support for gay rights, see here and here. Leave a Comment Tags: age/aging, marriage/family, sexual orientation, state [...]

By: Salome

Salome — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 05:45:54 +0000

I’d imagine a lot of those people who are against gay marriage say they know an out gay friend as though it’s some sort of block against the charge that they’re a bigot. But, like the “I can’t be racist, I have black friends” people, I imagine quite a bit of them are stretching the truth because it makes them look better.

That said, I know plenty of people who know out gays and still hold to their anti-homosexual beliefs. Some people just can’t be convinced of equality even when the reasons for it are staring them in the face. But the majority of people I know, if they weren’t supportive of gay rights already, at least changed their minds a little, or reconsidered their beliefs. One of my uber-Catholic friends is going through that right now since one of her close friends came out of the closet a year ago. (She’s also starting to question the Catholic Church’s beliefs about sexual repression, which I take to be MY good influence on her with my fairly progressive views on sex.)

By: Vettekaas

Vettekaas — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:07:13 +0000

Also, the idea that queer people migrate in masses to the city is pretty stereotypical.

There are quite a few queer people in small towns (like where I come from!), but, yeah the visibility just isn’t there like in the cities.

I’m fairly out in my hometown.. but it’s like everybody knows and I’m a respected member of the community, but nobody’s out there waiving rainbow flags…

By: Adrian

Adrian — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:38:01 +0000

I’m not so certain it would negate the relationship; in addition to queers being unlikely to be out around open or likely homophobes, many choose to move to that “big city” to more or less “escape” the homophobia they find or assume in their smaller towns and cities.

Therefore, people who don’t personally know a queer person, and therefore are intolerant of pro-queer legislation, are primary reasons for queer people to not be out to them or to leave their general presence. It’s more of a vicious circle (lack of representation leads to intolerance, which leads to omission/distance, and therefore lack of representation) than a no-connection; though I can see how both models would work.

By: Vettekaas

Vettekaas — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 22:36:05 +0000

I know plenty of people who are totally accept me as an open queer person but who would certainly not support a gay marriage bill. And, yes, they have said that to me in person. And, no, they are not horrible people. And, yes, we are still friends.

I hope they change their minds eventually.

By: Magnetic Crow

Magnetic Crow — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:44:04 +0000

I rather agree with Deborah, in that people who are intolerant of non-heterosexual leanings are less likely to find out that some of their friends and acquaintances are gay.
I lived with a very devout born-again-Christian for a while in college. Her friends were also very Christian, and incredibly homophobic. They were all fairly nice people in other respects, but I certainly never let them know I am bisexual.
I’m positive I’m not the only non-heterosexual person who has not let certain friends/acquaintances know about their sexuality because they were afraid of alienating them or incurring other consequences, such as physical abuse or being kicked out of their housing establishment, or losing their career, military or otherwise.

By: Redhead Metalhead

Redhead Metalhead — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 18:46:57 +0000

What worries me is that there are still people who say that they personally knew someone and still said that they didn’t believe gays should be married. Either they’re lying, or maybe I should think about that when I talk to my friends again. I have to wonder what would make the people who said that it shouldn’t be legal still think that it’s wrong for gays to marry.

By: Deborah

Deborah — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:51:14 +0000

Or: People who are homophobic are less likely to realize they know gay people. Or, gay people are less likely to be out to people who are transparently homophobic.

By: Posts about Andrew Sullivan as of June 6, 2009 » The Daily Parr

Posts about Andrew Sullivan as of June 6, 2009 » The Daily Parr — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:36:58 +0000

[...] about Andrew Sullivan as of June 6, 2009 Gay Marriage And The Contact Hypothesis – thesocietypages.org 06/06/2009 The contact hypothesis postulates that being near people of a different [...]