Gay Men and Lesbians' Experiences in and Expectations for Interactions with Heterosexuals

• Published in: Journal of homosexuality Vol. 44; no. 1; pp. 83 - 109
• Main Authors: Conley, Terri D., Devine, Patricia G., Rabow, Jerome, Evett, Sophia R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis Group 01-01-2002; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Adult; Attitudes; Contact hypothesis; contact-effects; Discrimination; Discrimination against gays and lesbians; Female; Gays; Gays & lesbians; heterophobia; Heterosexuality; Heterosexuality - psychology; Heterosexuals; Homophobia; Homosexuality; Homosexuality, Female - psychology; Homosexuality, Male - psychology; Homosexuals; Human rights; Humans; Intergroup Relations; Interpersonal Relations; Lesbianism; Lesbians; Majority Groups; Male; Minority Groups; Personal relationships; Phobias; Prejudice; Public opinion; Sexuality; Social aspects; Social conditions; Stigma; U.S.A; United States
• ISSN: 0091-8369; 1540-3602
• DOI: 10.1300/J082v44n01_05

We analyzed 97 gay men's and lesbians' experiences with and expectations for interactions with majority group members. Respondents described reactions to previous or imagined future interactions with an unfamiliar heterosexual person who had just become aware that the respondent was lesbian or gay. Results indicated that respondents are more proactive than reactive (in contrast to expectation states theories), that the contact hypothesis can be appropriately applied to this group, even though the formulation of the theory was based upon negative attitudes in the absence of extensive contact, and that they have different reactions for people of different prejudice levels, rather than being globally suspicious, as is predicted by many intergroup theories. Future research should direct more attention to the stigmatized group members' attitudes about and reactions toward the majority group.