Are More Educated States More Gay-Friendly? How the Increase in College Attainment Promotes Acceptance of Gay Men and Lesbians

ABSTRACT Attitudes toward gay men and lesbians in the United States have liberalized dramatically over time yet vary substantially between states. Trends in college attainment mirror this uneven progress. This study draws on theories of the university as a cultural institution to examine the relationship between college-educated populations and attitudes toward gay men and lesbians over time and across American states. Employing 1984–2016 American National Election Studies data, this study demonstrates that larger shares of college graduates in a state are associated with more favorable attitudes on average toward gay men and lesbians, including among those who do not have a college degree. These results are robust to competing state-level religious, political, and economic explanations. Results also show that individuals in states with more college graduates are more likely to identify as LGB. This increases the likelihood of knowing someone who is LGB, which in turn leads to more accepting views. Cultural values of tolerance and acceptance espoused by university graduates may create social contexts in which sexual minorities feel safe to come out, thus increasing the visibility of sexual minority communities and enhancing favorable attitudes.