ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the extent to which people living in Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago believe that the anti-gay laws currently in place: (1) reflect moral standards; (2) stop the spread of homosexuality; (3) are important from a public health perspective; and (4) protect young people from abuse. Analysis reveals that demographics, religion, interpersonal contact and beliefs about the origin of homosexuality all influenced an individual's views on the usefulness of the anti-gay laws in these states, but the significance of their impacts varied substantially across the arguments.
Subject(s)
Heterosexuality/psychology , Homophobia/legislation & jurisprudence , Legislation as Topic , Public Opinion , Adult , Barbados , Guyana , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Public Health , Sexual and Gender Minorities , Stereotyping , Surveys and Questionnaires , Trinidad and TobagoABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate support for current buggery/sodomy laws in three Caribbean countries-Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. To complete this task, data from the 2013 Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES) 'Attitudes towards homosexuals' surveys were employed. The data analysis revealed that a majority of heterosexuals in the sample generally supported the maintenance and enforcement of the anti-gay laws, and the main predictors of said support were race, country of residence, religiosity, interpersonal contact and beliefs about the origins of homosexuality.