Attitudes toward homosexuality in Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana

Two anonymous questionnaires assessing attitudes toward gay issues were adm inistered to adults living in the Shreveport/Bossier City, Louisiana area. In both, demographic data were obtained regarding Sender, education, religi on, age and marital status. In the second questionnaire, family groups were given the questionnaire. In the first survey, the results generally suppor ted previous findings that religiosity, gender, and education at or below t he high school level appeared to be associated with negative attitudes towa rd gay and lesbian issues. The variable most frequently associated with pos itive attitudes toward gay and lesbian issues was whether or not the indivi dual had at least one gay friend, relative, or acquaintance. In the second study, the questionnaire was analyzed in terms of the entire group of subje cts, family groups, and family positions. This second questionnaire indicat ed that similarities are most likely to exist among mothers and daughters, and same sex siblings. In regard to family members, wives/mothers and daugh ters had more positive attitudes toward homosexuality than sans, fathers, g randparents, other relatives, and in-laws.