America's liberalization in attitudes toward homosexuality, 1973 to 1998

Using General Social Survey data from 1973 to 1998, changing American attit udes toward homosexuality are examined. Two hypotheses are tested: (1) Can changes in attitudes be accounted for by the changing demographics of the p opulation? (2) Are changing attitudes toward homosexuality embedded within larger cultural ideological shifts? The data indicate that Americans distin guish between the morality of homosexuality and the civil liberties of homo sexuals. Americans became increasingly negative regarding the morality of h omosexuality through 1990, but since then their attitudes have become incre asingly liberal. The same 25-year period witnessed a steady decline in Amer icans' willingness to restrict the civil libel-ties of homosexuals. Changes in American demographics-particularly increasing educational levels-and ch anging cultural ideological beliefs can account for only about one-half of the change over time in attitudes toward homosexuality. Several theories ar e put forth to explain these patterns of change and the distinction made be tween morality and civil liberties.