Note: [] Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Stacey S. Horn, Associate Professor, Educational Psychology, MC 147, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1040 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607. E-mail: sshorn@uic.edu
Abstract: In this study, we investigated the relationships between school context and heterosexual adolescents' social reasoning regarding same-sex sexuality and sexual prejudice. One thousand seventy-six adolescents (Female, n=648; Male, n=428) attending two high schools that differed in the degree to which they implemented practices to increase the safety and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT students) responded to a questionnaire regarding their attitudes and beliefs about homosexuality and their judgments regarding excluding and teasing lesbian, gay, and gender non-conforming peers. The results of the study suggest that safe schools practices are related to more tolerant and less stereotypical attitudes among heterosexual students; particularly regarding gay male sexuality. This study provides additional evidence that adolescents' social reasoning about sexual prejudice is complex and multidimensional.
Keywords: Sexual prejudice, homophobia, adolescents, social reasoning, school context
