Study reveals empathy for LGBT community, veils applicants

A new study done by economists at Ohio State University and Boston University has found the LGBT community is possibly underestimated and there may be a greater empathy among the nation for equal rights, no matter what someone’s sexual orientation may be.

The study indicated a 65 percent increase in self-reports of non-heterosexual identity when using a veiled (anonymous) method as opposed to a direct method of surveying, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research’s website.

The results of the report also show an occurrence of two social events.

“It is perceived as socially undesirable both to be open about being gay, and to be unaccepting of gay individuals,” the results read.

From prior experience and knowledge of LGBT issues, when someone feels more secure that they will not be persecuted for their beliefs they will be more willing to express those beliefs, said Robert Koch, co-adviser for SAFE (Student Alliance for Equality).

“We live in a culture in which people are afraid to be honest for fear of being disliked or for fear that they will be attacked for their beliefs,” he said. “You have an environment in the South predominately and the Great Plains where the LGBT community is still afraid to come out.”

The difference in the North and South is in whose voice is being heard, Koch said.

“The North is quite full of homophobic folks and the South has an equal number of quieter pro-LGBT folks,” he said.

Fear is still an issue, said Victoria Sparks, president of SAFE.

“Fear is definitely not going to help with gaining equal rights, but those thoughts are understandable, in my opinion,” Sparks said. “I think that people are afraid.

“We live in a society that constantly judges, and unfortunately there are many stigmas tied to equal rights advocacy. These people are probably afraid of judgment and how it will affect their jobs, families, statuses and even safety.”

Both sides of the spectrum have concerns, Koch said.

“Nobody’s talking anymore,” Koch said. “We have a government that does not know how to talk. They talk at each other, but they do not compromise. So, you have this conflict between progressives and traditionalists, and those who are traditionalists fear they are being persecuted and those who are progressives fear they are being persecuted.”

The veiled survey saw an incline in those who were in favor of equal rights for the LGBT community, as well as those who were not.

“They don’t have to deal with the prejudices and pressures of established religion or conservatism in the veiled survey,” Koch said. “In both cases people are afraid to be outed, and the veiled survey seems to give them a venue to reveal more about who they are without them feeling like their security has been jeopardized.

“I think it’s also good to those who are opposed to gender and sexual diversity to recognize it’s not this sudden change and that they no longer have a place in the world. Somebody who wishes to express their displeasure in the way the world is changing does not have to fear that their words are going to lead them to be persecuted by anybody who is pro-diversity or pro-progress.”

Anytime people are willing to talk and we can collect information that reveals how people are feeling, as well as what they are thinking, it is useful, Koch said.

“I think it it’s good for the LGBT community to know that it is a larger possibility than we may have thought,” he said.

Student Alexandra McKay said she would be more liberal when taking a veiled survey if asked about her stance on LGBT issues.

“Everybody has a different opinion and they don’t want to be judged on that opinion, whether it’s more liberal or on the conservative spectrum,” she said.