LGBT+ visibility builds acceptance, research finds

Wednesday, 27 May 2020 15:00 GMT

ARCHIVE PHOTO: Cast member Ruby Rose poses at the premiere for "The Meg" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., August 6, 2018. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

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The research found that LGBT+ representation in the media makes people more receptive of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people

By Matthew Lavietes

NEW YORK, May 27 (Openly) - Americans are more likely to accept LGBT+ people if they see them portrayed in film, television and advertisements, said a survey released on Wednesday, findings that supporters say illustrate the benefits of visibility to the LGBT+ community.

Nearly half of those who saw LGBT+ images in the media were more receptive of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, compared with a third who had not seen those images, according to research by Procter & Gamble Co., the consumer goods giant, and GLAAD, a U.S.-based LGBT+ nonprofit.

The research surveyed about 2,000 non-LGBT+ U.S. adults.

The findings come amid debate in the United States between rights advocates who back LGBT+ visibility and right-wing groups that oppose the images in mass media.

"The findings of this study send a strong message to brands and media outlets that including LGBTQ people in ads, films, and TV is good for business and good for the world," said Sarah Ellis, the head of GLAAD, in a statement.

In December, Hallmark Cards pulled television advertisements that featured same-sex couples from the wedding registry and planning website Zola after pressure from a conservative group, One Million Moms, that said the ads promoted a "sinful lifestyle."

After public outcry, Hallmark reversed its decision and apologized.

The survey also found companies that included LGBT+ people in their ads were viewed favorably by nearly 70% of respondents, who said they felt "better" about buying products from those companies.

A number of companies have spoken out against laws that hinder LGBT+ rights, such as Amazon, Nike Inc. and American Airlines which condemned a Tennessee law in February allowing adoption agencies to turn away LGBT+ couples on religious grounds.

(Reporting by Matthew Lavietes, Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly. Visit http://news.trust.org)

Openly is an initiative of the Thomson Reuters Foundation dedicated to impartial coverage of LGBT+ issues from around the world.

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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