Social Tolerance of Homosexuality: A Quantitative Comparison of Mainland China, Singapore, and Taiwan

Abstract This study compares three Asian societies that are heavily influenced by Chinese culture and Confucianism, mainland China, Singapore, and Taiwan, in their social correlates of public tolerance of homosexuality. Due to different sociopolitical environments and public policies regarding homosexuality, individual-level factors such as education, income, age, and religiosity operate in distinct ways in the three societies. The more progressive environment in Taiwan allows more room for the manifestation of individual-level influences, compared to mainland China and Singapore. With respect to homosexuality, the tolerance-promoting effects of education and income and the tolerance-depressing effects of age and religiosity are significantly more pronounced in Taiwan than in mainland China and Singapore. Broader sociopolitical environments not only affect the overall level of tolerance of homosexuality in a society but also shape what individuals in the society are more tolerant.