Straight Allies: What Predicts Heterosexuals' Alliance With the LGBT Community?1

2011/09/01 by ADAM W. FINGERHUT, Adam W. Fingerhut · 179 citations
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Academic Freedom and Politics #Alliance #Civil rights #Empathy #Gender studies #Homosexuality #LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy #Law #Lesbian #Political science #Prejudice (legal term) #Psychology #Sexual minority #Sexual orientation #Social and Intergroup Psychology #Social psychology #Sociology #Transgender

paper · doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2011.00807.x

published in Journal of Applied Social Psychology 41(9), 2230-2248 (Wiley)

openalex publication_date 2011/09/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/22

Abstract

Despite their prominence in civil rights movements, out-group allies have been understudied. The current research examined out-group alliance, focusing on predictors of heterosexuals' advocacy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights. Heterosexuals who were recruited through an online panel of research participants completed a survey containing measures of empathy, out-group contact, gender, education, and attitudes toward gays and lesbians. Additionally, participants indicated whether they had engaged in several allied behaviors (e.g., donating money for LGBT causes). Women, educated individuals, and those with gay and lesbian friends were more likely to be allies. Additionally, alliance was greatest among individuals lower in prejudice and simultaneously higher in positivity toward gays and lesbians. Implications regarding intergroup relations and future research are discussed.

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