Tolerance towards homosexuality in Europe: Population composition, economic affluence, religiosity, same-sex union legislation and HIV rates as explanations for country differences. (July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Slenders, Susanne; Sieben, Inge; Verbakel, Ellen
• Is Part Of: International sociology. Volume 29:Number 4(2014:Jul.)
• Page Start: 348
• Page End: 367
• Publication Date: 2014-07
• Subjects: Attitudes -- Europe -- homosexuality -- law -- same-sex marriage -- tolerance; Europe -- homosexualité -- législation -- mariage entre personnes de même sexe -- mentalités -- tolérance; Actitudes -- Europa -- homosexualidad -- legislación -- matrimonio del mismo sexo -- tolerancia; Sociology -- Periodicals; Social history -- Periodicals; Social change -- Periodicals; Globalization -- Periodicals; 303.482
• DOI: 10.1177/0268580914535825
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0268-5809

Abstract

This study aims to explain variation in the level of tolerance towards homosexuality between European countries. Results of multi-level regression analyses on 40 countries from the 2008 wave of the European Values Study show that countries' economic affluence and laws on same-sex unions are positively associated with individuals' tolerance towards homosexuality. An additional exercise suggests that the association between laws and attitudes may be the result of two-way causality; legislation seems to both shape and reflect levels of tolerance towards homosexuality. The study finds no independent association between tolerance and the level of religiosity in a country and refutes the hypothesis that high numbers of diagnosed HIV cases resulting from sex between men are negatively related to tolerance towards homosexuality in Europe.