The Hamilton College Gay Issues Poll

[kweerwolf]

Two-thirds of this year's high school graduates favor legal recognition of gay marriages, a view shared by just one-third of the adult population. According to a Hamilton College poll of high school seniors, the class of 2001 sides with gays on contentious issues from gay marriage to gay Scoutmasters. Comparisons with recent adult polls reveal that the graduates are consistently more liberal than older Americans on gay issues. But the poll also revealed that many graduates doubt they would be comfortable with gays in common social situations. And the Hamilton researchers found a solidly anti-gay minority, about 30 percent of the graduates, who have negative attitudes toward gays and conservative opinions on most gay issues. (The views of these "anti-gays" are examined separately in the attached report).

<snip>

Other important findings from the Hamilton Gay Issues Poll include the following:

- 71 percent of the high school graduates polled by Hamilton vs. 54 percent of the adults surveyed by Gallup said that sexual relations between same-sex adults should be legal.
- 63 percent of graduates say they would be "comfortable" with a gay math teacher, but only 31 percent think they would be comfortable at a party with both gay and straight couples.
- About half the graduates reported that they have heard classmates insult gay students by calling them "faggot, homo, dyke" or a similar name.
- 80 percent of Catholics support legal recognition of gay marriages, in direct opposition to official Church doctrine.
- Eight out of 10 graduates say that gay men and lesbians should be "accepted by society."
- 77 percent agree that "gays contribute to society in unique and positive ways."
- The anti-gay minority (about 30 percent of graduates) consists largely of highly religous Christians who regard homosexuality as a moral or religious question.
- 71 percent of graduates would allow gay men to serve as Scout leaders.
- 39 percent of graduates say that "gay lifestyles are morally wrong."

http://www.hamilton.edu/news/gayissuespoll/

[xchrom]

1. lol -- what happened with the party question?

we were doing sooooo well.

[BR_Parkway]

5. They're scared of what they might do around gay folk and alcohol

it's easier to stay str8 if they aren't tempted (and able to use the "I was drunk" excuse)

[sonicx]

2. This is the 2001 poll

the new 2006 one is here...

http://www.hamilton.edu/news/more_news/display.cfm?ID=10180

It's been posted already, tho. ;)

[megatherium]

3. I'm really glad 63% would be comfortable with a gay math teacher,`

since that's what I am!

Curious fact: An industry-leading calculus text and an industry-leading differential equations text were both written by gay authors. A couple of years ago, I taught out of both of those books one semester (which I swear I chose before I knew about their authors). I met the calc text author at a convention, and mentioned that I was teaching out of these books that semester. He laughed and said we're all playing on the same team.

[mitchtv]

6. The other 37% are probably not comfortable with

multiplication

[dsc]

7. very cool

I am also a gay math teacher. I was glad to see that stat as well. Though somehow I suspect the numbers are a bit lower here in rural NC.

[Ayesha]

4. I think it's because

Thanks to more people being out of the closet, most young adults know someone who is gay. It's a lot harder to hold on to negative views and stereotypes when your best friend, math teacher, or classmate's parent is gay. They see successful gay people in the media (Ellen, Ian McKellen, etc.) and know that the hate is based on lies.