Heterosexual identity and heterosexism: recognizing privilege to reduce prejudice.

We propose that heterosexuals' attitudes toward their own heterosexual identity evolve in a manner similar to the development of racial identity attitudes among Whites-another dominant group with privileged social status. A more developed heterosexual identity, we hypothesized, would be associated with diminished levels of negative attitudes toward non-heterosexuals. To test our hypotheses, we administered to 154 heterosexual students Herek's (1988) Attitudes Toward Gays and Lesbians scale measuring heterosexist (i.e., anti-gay) attitudes and a version of Helms and Carter's (1990) White Racial Identity Attitude Scale (WRIAS) modified to assess heterosexual identity attitudes. Hierarchical regression analyses controlling demographic indicators partially confirmed the hypothesized associations between evolving identity stages and less heterosexist attitudes. The role of recognizing one's social privilege is proposed (though not empirically examined) as a potential mediator between developing a dominant group identity and decreasing prejudicial attitudes towards non-privileged groups. Finally, implications and recommendations for future research and addressing heterosexism are presented.

Patterns and predictors of HIV risk among urban American Indians.

A preliminary survey of HIV risk and service preferences among American Indians residing in the New York metropolitan area included 68 women and 32 men (M age=35.8 years). Overall, the sample was knowledgeable about the mechanisms of HIV transmission, and 58 percent reported having taken an HIV test. However, of the 63 percent who reported sexual activity in the last six months, 73 percent reported engaging in vaginal or anal sex without a condom with at least 1 partner, and 52 percent used condoms none of the time during vaginal and anal sex. Almost half (43 percent) reported alcohol or other drug (AOD) use for non-ceremonial purposes in the last six months. Alarmingly, 44 percent reported lifetime trauma, including domestic violence (20 percent) and physical (29 percent) or sexual (26 percent) assault by a family member or stranger. Bivariate and multivariate analyses indicated trauma and drug use were factors that may place respondents at risk for sexual transmission of HIV. Trauma variables were better predictors of HIV risk behaviors than social cognitive variables providing preliminary support for the use of a postcolonial framework in American Indian HIV studies.