title: Effects of interaction experiences and undergraduate coursework on attitudes toward gay and lesbian issues.
abstract: College experiences can expand knowledge, decrease negative stereotypes, and increase acceptance toward diversity, especially regarding gay and lesbian issues. This study found that the more interaction undergraduate students have with gay and lesbian people on campus, the more accepting their attitudes are regarding (1) same-sex, consensual sex, (2) same-sex relations between adults is not unnatural, (3) vote for a gay presidential candidate, (4) friends with a feminine man, (5) friends with a masculine woman, (6) knowledge of GL issues important for future career, and (7) comfortable with GL roommate. Furthermore, the more undergraduate students are exposed to coursework addressing gay and lesbian issues, the more positive their attitudes are regarding the importance of knowledge of gay/lesbian issues for future career and comfort with a gay/lesbian roommate. Discussion explores possible long-term implications of systematic interaction experiences and coursework at all levels within the educational system to prevent negative attitude formation.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Central Michigan University , Mount Pleasant , Michigan , USA.
authors.forename: Jessica R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sevecke
authors.forename: Katrina N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Rhymer
authors.forename: Elbert P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Almazan
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jacob
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D003479:Curriculum; D004493:Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D018452:Homosexuality, Female; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: attitude; college education; coursework; gay; lesbian; peer interaction