Acceptance of same-sex couples is growing ..... until they start kissing and holding hands in public

[marmar]

from the Pacific Standard:



The notion that gay couples should be treated the same as straight ones has grown enormously in acceptance in recent years. But new research suggests there is a limit to all of this tolerance.

According to a research team led by Indiana University sociologist Long Doan, heterosexual Americans believe gay couples should have the same legal rights as straight couples. However, they remain uncomfortable with public displays of affection by gay and lesbian couples.

Surprisingly, the study finds gay men also take a relatively dim view of same-sex public kissing and hand-holding, while lesbians hold mixed opinions on the subject.

Writing in the American Sociological Review, the researchers describe a survey of 1,073 Americans—258 lesbians, 310 gay men, 240 straight women, and 265 straight men. They were randomly assigned to read a brief vignette about a couple that met, fell in love, and have been living together for the past two years. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.psmag.com/navigation/health-and-behavior/homosexual-lgbt-gays-rights-great-ixnay-pdas-public-display-affection-kissing-94953/

[Renew Deal]

1. I think people aren't crazy about PDA in general.

[unblock]

3. sure they are, provided they're involved....

[Renew Deal]

4. Not me

[yeoman6987]

5. Yep! I agree

[gollygee]

6. Hand holding?

I don't think people care if hetero couples hold hands. That sounds like just homophobia if people are complaining about that.

And people don't care if, say, a man and women give a quick kiss goodbye somewhere. People don't like any couples making out or anything, but quick kissing isn't an issue for straight couples. It isn't anything I've heard anyone complain about.

I think this isn't just a case of "people don't like it when anyone does it" except for heavy PDAs. But they're including hand holding in this. And even with heavy PDAs, people really just get annoyed and look the other way when it's a straight couple. They sometimes get violent when it's a same sex couple.

[rurallib]

7. agree - When I was young and filled with hope

PDA was OK.
But somewhere I became curmudgeonly and PDAs just seem as though they should be done in private.

Bah! Humbug!

[unblock]

2. give it time. we've made astounding strides over the last decade.

honestly, i never would have guessed 10 years ago we'd have had as much progress in terms of gay rights.

more to do, certainly, especially in terms of employee rights, but these things will follow.