Author: The Williams Institute
Published: Friday 30th October 2020 - Updated: Sunday 29th November 2020
Summary: LGB Republicans are less connected to the LGBT community than LGB Democrats.
A new study by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law finds differences between LGB Republicans and Democrats in how they view their sexual identity and how they connect to the LGBT community.
Compared to LGB Democrats, fewer LGB Republicans say they feel a part of the LGBT community and view participation in the community as a positive thing. In addition, more LGB Republicans than Democrats say they would want to be completely heterosexual (41% v. 17%, respectively) and being LGB is a personal shortcoming (38% v. 16%, respectively).
Researchers analyzed data from the Generations Study, a representative sample of non-transgender LGB people in the U.S., and found some similarities between LGB people of the two political affiliations. LGB Republicans and Democrats are similar in the degree to which they disclosed their sexual identity to others. And people of both affiliations perceive similar levels of rejection and discrimination in the communities where they live.
"There is a common belief that LGBT identity and Republican affiliation are incompatible," said lead author Ilan H. Meyer, Distinguished Senior Scholar of Public Policy at the Williams Institute. "Although they represent a small minority, some LGB people are affiliated as Republicans. However, it is striking to find how much they differ from sexual minority Democrats in terms of their connections with LGBT communities."
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The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, a think tank on sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy, is dedicated to conducting rigorous, independent research with real-world relevance.
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