Out in the Mountains

NGLTF Surveys Voters on Gay Issues

Washington, D.C. — (March 16, 1994) -
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
(NGLTF) last week released a survey of
national and local polls, focus group
research, and other articles measuring
voters’ opinions about gay—related issues.
The document, “The Right Response: A
Survey of Voters’ Attitudes About
Gay—Related Questions,” was issued by
the NGLTF Fight the Right project to
assist activists battling state and local
anti-gay ballot measures.

Information was gathered from dozens of
polling organizations including the
Election and Survey Unit of CBS News,
NBC, the Gallup Organization, Princeton
Survey Research Associates, EDK
Associates, Mason-Dixon Political/Media
Research, Inc., and the Roper Center for
Public Opinion Research, as well as

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numerous articles from both national and
local newspapers that covered public
opinion studies and/or initiative and
referenda campaigns.

In assessing the relationship between
public attitudes towards lesbians, gay men
and bisexuals and the community's
political strategies, the survey's author,
Susan Hibbard, NGLTF Campaign
Specialist with the Fight the Right Project,
offered the following recommendations to
organizers battling anti-gay measures:

“Discrimination” and “equal rights.” These
are the terms in which gay organizers must
cast the debate. Overwhelmingly, voters
opposition to discrimination has driven
them to oppose anti—gay measures. The
public most strongly objects to housing
and job discrimination. Three—quarters of
the U.S. public supports equal rights in
employment opportunities for lesbians, gay
men, and bisexuals.

Organizers must clarify and quantify the
real nature and extent of discrimination
against gay people--only then can voters

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understand the need for legal remedy.
People abhor discrimination, but it appears
that the public, at least when relating to
groups about whom they hold negative
opinions, constructs a narrow definition of
discrimination that warrants remedy.
Discrimination is redefined only as
unequal treatment in housing and
employment.
believe gay people are discriminated
against in some way, they do not feel that
gay people face discrimination of a kind
that needs remedy. A New York State
focus group leader read participants three
newspaper stories about job and housing
discrimination. Participants were surprised
that such overt discrimination exists and
that, absent protective legislation, it is
legal.

Short-term victories will more likely result
from reinforcing the public’s opposition to
discrimination than from trying to change
the majority’s lack of acceptance.
Conversely, long-term victories will not be
won without increasing public acceptance.
Anti—gay violence, either physical or
emotional, will not be eradicated

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