Abstract
Theory: Expectations about why groups and social movements differ in terms of their support for confrontational tactics can be applied to subgroups within a larger set of political activists. Hypotheses: Political distrust, personal suffering, ideological intensity, and divergent social locations encourage support for ACT-UP and disruptive political tactics among AIDS activists, with strong mediating effects being exerted by sexual orientation. Methods: The data are based on a 1992 national mail survey of AIDS activists. OLS regression was used to analyze the sample as a whole and the subsamples of gay and straight respondents. Results: Whereas distrust and dissatisfaction had a small impact, personal suffering, ideological commitment, and divergent social locations tended to increase support for disruptive behavior. These relationships differed, however, among gays and straights due to their immersion in disparate social networks and milieus. The results highlight the importance of within-movement heterogeneity.
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