The Association between AIDS-Related Stigma & Aggression Toward Gay Men & Lesbians

This study examined whether self-identified race and prior contact with a gay man or lesbian moderate the association between AIDS-related stigma and aggression toward gay men and lesbians when controlling for sexual prejudice. 

A regional, community-recruited sample of 194 heterosexual men (50% Black, 50% White) completed measures of AIDS-related stigma, sexual prejudice, and prior contact with gay men and lesbians. 

Regression analyses showed that AIDS-related stigma was positively associated with aggression toward gay men and lesbians among White men who reported no prior contact, but not among White men who endorsed prior contact and Black men regardless of prior contact. 

Findings suggest that intergroup contact may be a key component to reducing the effects of AIDS-related stigma towards stigmatized groups. Implications for aggression theory and intervention are discussed.

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By:  Vincent W1, Peterson JL2, Parrott DJ2.

• 1Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, Division of Prevention Science, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California.
• 2Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia. 

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Measuring Attitudes About Hate: Development of the Hate Crime Beliefs Scale

Employing the federal Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA) of 2009 and other such legislation as a backdrop, the present study evaluated the nature of beliefs about hate-crime legislation, offenders, and victims. In addition, it investigated construct validity (i.e., political beliefs and prejudice) and predictive validity (i.e., blame attribution and sentencing recommendations). 

A total of 403 U.S. adults completed measures of prejudice and an initial pool of 50 items forming the proposed Hate Crime Beliefs Scale (HCBS). Participants were randomly assigned to read one of four hate-crime vignettes, which varied in regard to type of prejudice (racial-, sexual orientation-, transgender-, and religion-based prejudices) and then responded to blame and sentencing questions. 

Factor analyses of the HCBS resulted in four sub-scales: Negative Views (i.e., higher scores reflect negative views of legislation and minority group protection), Offender Punishment (i.e., higher scores suggest endorsement of greater punishment), Deterrence (i.e., greater scores denote support for hate-crime legislation as a deterrent of more violence), and Victim Harm (i.e., higher scores reflect pro-victim attitudes). Greater pro-legislation and pro-victim beliefs were related to liberal political beliefs and less prejudicial attitudes, with some exceptions. 

Controlling for a number of demographic, situational, and attitudinal covariates, the Negative Views sub-scale displayed predictive utility, such that more negative views of legislation/minority group protection were associated with elevated victim blame, as well as lower perpetrator blame and sentencing recommendations. 

Results are discussed in the context of hate-crime research and policy, with additional implications considered for trial strategy, modern prejudice, and blame attribution theory.

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By:  Cabeldue MK1, Cramer RJ2, Kehn A3, Crosby JW4, Anastasi JS4.

• 1Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ, USA cabeldue@student.fdu.edu.
• 2Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.
• 3University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA.
• 4Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, USA. 
• J Interpers Violence. 2016 Mar 6. pii: 0886260516636391. 

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Perceived Social Support in the Lives of Gay, Bisexual & Queer Hispanic College Men

In this qualitative study, we examined the sources and nature of social support reported by 24 gay, bisexual and queer Hispanic college men at a small liberal arts college and a large university in the USA. 

We identified four themes of support across the interviews: Shared experiences (46%), Protector (42%), Support in the air (33%) and Gradual support (29%). Shared experiences included support from those who had previous experience with the lesbian, gay or bisexual community. Protector indicated a type of support that was psychologically, emotionally or physically protective in nature. Participants also reported receiving indirect support such as nonverbal behaviours or indirect gestures of endorsement and caring (support in the air). Participants reported that many of their network members came to support them gradually over time (gradual support). Within each theme we found support from both women and men, who provided support in gender-consistent ways. 

Our results highlight that despite continued prejudice and discrimination in society, sexual and racial/ethnic minority men have strongholds of support from men and women in their lives that enable them to navigate their development successfully.

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By:  Rios D1, Eaton A2.

• 1 Departments of Psychology and Women's Studies , University of Houston-Clear Lake , Houston , USA.
• 2 Departments of Psychology and Women's and Gender Studies , Florida International University , Miami , USA. 
• Cult Health Sex. 2016 Mar 4:1-14

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The Most Prejudiced Places in America

Via:  http://goo.gl/FFu4u1

Framing HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for the General Public: How Inclusive Messaging May Prevent Prejudice from Diminishing Public Support

Strategic framing of public messages about HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) may influence public support for policies and programs affecting access. 

This survey study examined how public attitudes toward PrEP differed based on the social group PrEP was described as benefiting ("beneficiary") and the moderating effect of prejudice. Members of the general public (n = 154) recruited online were randomly assigned to three beneficiary conditions: general population, gay men, or Black gay men. 

All participants received identical PrEP background information before completing measures of PrEP attitudes (specifying beneficiary), racism, and heterosexism. 

Despite anticipating greater PrEP adherence among gay men and Black gay men and perceiving PrEP as especially beneficial to the latter, participants expressed lower support for policies/programs making PrEP affordable for these groups vs. the general population. This disparity in support was stronger among participants reporting greater prejudice. 

Inclusive framing of PrEP in public discourse may prevent prejudice from undermining implementation efforts.

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By:  Calabrese SK1,2, Underhill K3,4, Earnshaw VA3,5, Hansen NB3,6, Kershaw TS7,3, Magnus M8, Krakower DS9,10, Mayer KH9,10, Betancourt JR11, Dovidio JF3,12.

• 1Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, 135 College Street, Suite 358, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA. sarah.calabrese@yale.edu.
• 2Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. sarah.calabrese@yale.edu.
• 3Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
• 4Yale Law School, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
• 5Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
• 6Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
• 7Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, 135 College Street, Suite 358, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
• 8Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
• 9Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
• 10The Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA.
• 11Disparities Solutions Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
• 12Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. 
• AIDS Behav. 2016 Feb 19. 

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When Parents Separate and One Parent 'Comes Out' as Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual: Sons and Daughters Engage with the Tension that Occurs When Their Family Unit Changes

The experiences of Irish sons and daughters born into heterosexually-organised parental partnerships/unions whose parents have separated and one has come out as Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual (LGB) were explored through a grounded theory approach. 

Fifteen adult children (over the age of 18 years), who varied in age when their parents separated and one disclosed as LGB, were interviewed. The primary concern that emerged centred on participants having to adjust to their parents' being separated, as opposed to their parent being LGB. This involved engaging with the tension that arose from the loss of the parental union, which involved changes to the home environment and adapting to new parental partners and family units. 

Heightened reflection on sexual orientation and an increased sensitivity to societal LGB prejudice were specifically associated with a parent coming out as LGB. How parents negotiated disclosing the changes to others, the level of support available to parents, and how capable parents were at maintaining the parent-child relationship had an impact on the tension experienced by sons and daughters. Participants moved from initially avoiding and resisting the family changes that were occurring to gradual consonance with their altered family environments. 

Concluding directions for research and clinical considerations are suggested.

Below:  Sons and daughters engaging with tension that arises (when parents separate and one comes out as LGB): A transition from avoidance to consonance

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By:   Daly SC1, MacNeela P1, Sarma KM1.

• 1School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland. 
• PLoS One. 2015 Dec 28;10(12):e0145491. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145491. eCollection 2015. 

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Workplace Incivility as Modern Sexual Prejudice

Although discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation is prohibited by law in many countries, negative prejudices against Lesbian and Gay (LG) people, as a stigmatized minority, might be internalized by co-workers, being a source of a modern and subtle form of discrimination. 

Results from 39 in-depth semi-structured interviews with LG employees show that they are victims of workplace incivility which is manifested through jokes, use of language, stereotypes, and intrusive behaviors. Such acts are barely recognizable as a form of discrimination, due to the absence of any reference to sexual orientation, and for this reason it is more difficult to act against them at an organizational level. 

This is the first study that demonstrates how workplace incivility toward LG employees can be an expression of a subtle form of discrimination. It shows that discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation has not disappeared; it has simply changed its manifestations. 

Contributions and implications of the study are discussed from a theoretical and a practical perspective.

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By:   Di Marco D1, Hoel H2, Arenas A3, Munduate L3.

• 1University of Seville, Spain ddimarco@us.es.
• 2University of Manchester, UK.
• 3University of Seville, Spain. 

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Ecological Covariates of Subtle and Blatant Heterosexist Discrimination among LGBQ College Students

Sexual minority college students report experiencing interpersonal heterosexism, ranging from subtle insults to blatant physical violence. Such negative experiences can complicate developmental tasks common to adolescence and emerging adulthood. Studies examining the nature of heterosexism on college campuses have focused on blatant manifestations, yet subtle forms are more prevalent. 

Guided by ecological theory, we investigate the microsystem (e.g., perceived social support from friends, ambient heterosexism on campus), mesosystem (e.g., interaction between social support and ambient heterosexism), and macrosystem level (e.g., knowledge of gay-straight alliances on campus) covariates of interpersonal microaggressions, avoidance behaviors, verbal threats, and physical threats. 

Participants consisted of 530 self-identified LGBQ college students from 37 states. Regression results suggest that at the microsystem level, ambient heterosexism was positively associated with interpersonal microaggressions, avoidance behaviors, and verbal threats. 

At the mesosystem level, perceptions of LGBQ student support within one's institution moderated the effects of ambient heterosexism on three types of interpersonal heterosexism. At the macrosystem level, students who reported knowing that their campus had a sexual-orientation inclusive anti-discrimination policy reported encountering fewer verbal threats. 

Directions for future research and implications for campus programming are discussed.

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By: Hong JS1,2, Woodford MR3, Long LD4, Renn KA5.

• 1School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 4756 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA. fl4684@wayne.edu.
• 2Department of Social Welfare, Humanities and Social Science Campus, Sungkyunkwan University, 61505 Suseon Hall, 25-2 Sungkyunkwan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea. fl4684@wayne.edu.
• 3Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University, 120 Duke Street West, Kitchener, ON, N2H 3W8, Canada. mwoodford@wlu.ca.
• 4Michigan State University, 49 Abbot Road, MSU Union Room 326, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. ldlong@msu.edu.
• 5Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education, Michigan State University, 620 Farm Lane - Room 425, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1034, USA. renn@msu.edu.

  

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Male Role Endorsement Explains Negative Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men among Students in Mexico More Than in Germany

Anti-gay attitudes vary across cultures because the larger social context plays a role in attitude formation. Psychological correlates of theseattitudes have been investigated in the United States and Europe. Endorsement of traditional gender roles has emerged from that research as a central correlate, next to religiosity and personal contact with lesbians/gay men. 

In a cross-sectional study, we tested whether these correlates are relevant in Mexico, characterized as an androcentric culture in which both gender-role traditionalism and religiosity are high, using a college-age student sample (N = 63). Because we relied on self-reports, the motivation to appear nonprejudiced was also assessed. We found typical gender differences in attitudes toward gay men. 

In bivariate tests, anti-gay attitudes were related to male role endorsement, contact with lesbians/gay men, and religiosity. In a multivariate analysis, variance in attitudes was explained by male role endorsement; personal contact or religiosity did not explain additional variance. In a German comparison sample (N = 112), male role endorsement played a smaller role. 

Variance in anti-gay attitudes in the German sample was also related to personal contact, religiosity, and the motivation to appear nonprejudiced. We discuss the centrality of (male) gender-role endorsement in cultures with high gender-role traditionalism.

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By: Steffens MC1, Jonas KJ2, Denger L1.

• 1a Department of Social and Economic Psychology , Faculty of Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau.
• 2b Department of Social Psychology , Institute of Psychology, University of Amsterdam. 

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Stigma Toward Men Who Have Sex with Men Among Future Healthcare Providers in Malaysia: Would More Interpersonal Contact Reduce Prejudice?

Men who have sex with men (MSM) living in countries with strong stigma toward MSM are vulnerable to HIV and experience significant barriers to HIV care. Research is needed to inform interventions to reduce stigma toward MSM in these countries, particularly among healthcare providers. 

A cross-sectional survey of 1158 medical and dental students was conducted at seven Malaysian universities in 2012. Multivariate analyses of variance suggest that students who had interpersonal contact with MSM were less prejudiced toward and had lower intentions to discriminate against MSM. 

Path analyses with bootstrapping suggest stereotypes and fear mediate associations between contact with prejudice and discrimination. Intervention strategies to reduce MSM stigma among healthcare providers in Malaysia and other countries with strong stigma toward MSM may include facilitating opportunities for direct, in-person or indirect, media-based prosocial contact between medical and dental students with MSM.

Via: http://ht.ly/SYEVq Purchase full article at: http://goo.gl/mELevC

By: Earnshaw VA1, Jin H, Wickersham JA, Kamarulzaman A, John J, Lim SH, Altice FL.

1Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA, 

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