Prejudice Toward Gay Men and Lesbians in Relation to Cross- group Friendship and Gender

Abstract

We have explored prejudice toward homosexuals in relation to gender and to cross-group friendship. Women have shown significant lower levels of prejudice toward both lesbians and gay men. Men compared to women have shown significantly higher apprehension of contact with gay men, whereas women compared to men have shown significantly higher apprehension of contact with lesbians. Cross-group friendship with gay men had a significant positive impact on prejudice levels toward both lesbians and gay men and on apprehension of contact with gay men, whereas cross-group friendship with lesbians had a significant positive impact on the apprehension of contact with lesbians only.