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Antecedents of Pro-LGBT Advocacy among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual College Students

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Abstract

Utilizing the resource model of political participation, we identify the antecedents of willingness to sign a petition supporting employment protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people among sexual minority and heterosexual college students. Through secondary data analysis, we investigate the role of sociodemographic, mobilizing context, and framing variables, including various LGBT-related attitudes that have never been integrated in a single regression of LGBT activism. Results from a sample of sexual minority (n = 367) and heterosexual (n = 1,707) college students suggest that the majority of students from both sexual orientation groups are willing to sign a petition for LGBT rights. Although the impact of framing variables, such as transphobia and liberal identity, were most influential among both groups, the relevance of some framing antecedents (i.e., heterosexist attitudes and the disclosure of sexual identities) was specific to each sexuality. Before the inclusion of framing factors, knowing LGBT peers and observing heterosexist discrimination inspired greater activism among both sexuality groups as did being female and a graduate student; however, the significance of religious factors were only important among heterosexual students. Implications for future research are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

Funding supporting this study was provided by the National Center for Institutional Diversity, University of Michigan and the Curtis Center, School of Social Work, University of Michigan. Colin Lim's contributions were supported by a Graduate Student Research Assistantship, University of Michigan, awarded to Dr. Woodford. Thank you to the participants and the study advisory committee.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Social Work and Criminology, Morehead State University, 355 Rader Hall, Morehead, KY, 40351, USA

    Eric Swank

  2. School of Social Work, University of Michigan, 1080 S. University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, USA

    Michael R. Woodford

  3. Clinical Psychology, Fielding Graduate University, 2020 De al Vina Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105, USA

    Colin Lim

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  1. Eric Swank
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Correspondence to Michael R. Woodford.

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Swank, E., Woodford, M.R. & Lim, C. Antecedents of Pro-LGBT Advocacy among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual College Students. Sex Res Soc Policy 10, 317–332 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-013-0136-3

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