Measuring LGBT Discrimination in a Buddhist Country

Abstract

ABSTRACT Previous literature has found that, among other religions, Buddhism tends to be relatively less discriminatory against members of the LGBT community. However, this assessment is based solely on cross-country comparisons rather than analyses of discrimination at the individual level. The present study therefore uses an individual-level dataset that comprises a national representative sample of 27,855 observations to examine discrimination against LGBT people in Thailand, as a case study of such discrimination in a Buddhist country. It also examines the influence of Buddhist thoughts concerning prosocial behavior and positive emotions, which might be expected to reduce LGBT discrimination. Using an order-probit model, we find that while those who practice Buddhism tend to discriminate against members of this community less than do adherents of other religions, older generations tend to discriminate against LGBT people more than do their younger counterparts. Buddhist teachings regarding prosocial behavior such as reciprocating benefactors and donating money and goods as well as fostering positive emotions such as sincerely forgiving others and feeling gratified after helping others tend to reduce discrimination against LGBT individuals.