by Jeni Loftus

About the author: Jeni Loftus is a Ph.D. candidate in the department of sociology at Indiana University.

Since the Stonewall riots in 1969 [during which patrons of The Stonewall Inn, a gay establishment, resisted a police raid], there have been many steps both forward and backward for gays and lesbians in the United States. They have gained social acceptance among certain subgroups of the population while facing increased hostility from others. But what major gains, if any, have been made in Americans’ attitudes toward homosexuality"

Research suggests that Americans have become increasingly liberal in their opinions about civil liberties, especially those regarding African Americans and females. Research suggests that this liberalization is beginning to be extended to gays and lesbians. Yet the research on attitudes toward homosexuality is contradictory and has not systematically...