The relative importance of ethnicity and religion in predicting attitudes towards gays and lesbians

Using data from a sample of college students from several campuses throughout the United States, this research examines whether ethnic differences (African Americans versus European Americans) in attitudes toward gays and lesbians area function of religious attendance. Multiple regressions were run separately for attitudes towards lesbians and attitudes toward gay men. When predicting attitudes toward lesbians, ethnic differences were present in the absence of religious altitudes; however, when religious attitudes were entered into the model, ethnic differences disappeared. In predicting attitudes toward gay men, ethnic differences were never present, while religious attitudes were always statistically significant. We conclude that differences in altitudes toward homosexuals in general, and gay men specifically, are not necessarily a function of ethnicity but possibly of religious attendance and the effect of the 'Black church.' We end with a discussion of the link between ethnicity, religion, HIV/AIDS, and heterosexism in the African American community. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1.800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: Website: KEYWORDS. Ethnicity, religion, attitudes, gays, lesbians, heterosexism, African American, European American, Black church