Homophobia and perceptions of people with AIDS

The present research specifically assessed the roles of homophobia, gender, means of AIDS transmission, and sexual orientation on attitudes toward people with AIDS. Two hundred participants were asked to read 1 of 8 fictional newspaper articles, each of which described a person with AIDS (PWA). PWA descriptions varied in terms of gender, sexual orientation, and mode of AIDS transmission. Attitudes were measured with a multidimensional experimental questionnaire which assessed disrespect and blame toward PWAs. Results found that homophobic attitudes are related to negative perceptions of PWAs. Additionally, findings supported the proposition that generally, more negative attitudes toward PWAs are associated with sexual, as opposed to medical transmission. Men were significantly more disrespectful and blaming than were women.