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

[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/