Sexual prejudice decreases when individuals know more lesbians and gay men and believe their interactions to be positive. Researchers have found consistent associations between sexual prejudice and heterosexuals' frequency and appraisal of interactions with homosexual men and women, perceived similarity with peer attitudes toward homosexuality, and religiosity ( Herek, 2004 Sherrod & Nardi, 1998 Sakalli & Ugurlu, 2001 Altemeyer, 2001). Furthermore, prejudice toward homosexual men and women has been linked to increased incidence of hate crimes ( Garofalo, 1997 Herek, Gills, & Cogan, 1999 Herek, 1989), mental health problems ( Mays & Cochran, 2001 Rosario, Hunter, Maguen, Gwadz, & Smith, 2001), risk behaviors like drug use and unprotected sexual intercourse ( Meyer & Dean, 1998), and stigma ( Díaz & Ayala, 2001 Peterson & Carballo-Diéguez, 2000 Grossman, 2001 Cole, Kemeny, Taylor, & Visscher, 1996). Researchers studying sexual minorities have found prejudice increases the inequalities between homosexual and heterosexual individuals' educational achievement outcomes ( Russell, Seif, Truong, 2001) and wage earnings ( Badgett, 1995). Herek (2000a) defined sexual prejudice as negative attitudes toward an individual because of his/her sexual orientation. National surveys in the United States have found high levels of sexual prejudice against homosexuals ( Herek & Capitanio, 1999 Herek & Capitanio, 1996). Current public debates and legislation on the inclusion of statutes against discrimination due to sexual orientation, hate crimes, and gay marriage and civil unions highlight the controversial range of beliefs and attitudes regarding the civil rights granted to homosexual populations in society.
Perceptions of homosexuality play a crucial role in shaping the social and political climate in society and affect how policies at the local and national level are created to protect or marginalize homosexual men and women.