Attitudes of Master's-Level Counseling Students Toward Gay Men and Lesbians

• Published in: Counseling and values Vol. 52; no. 1; pp. 12 - 24
• Main Authors: Rainey, Steve, Trusty, Jerry
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.10.2007; American Counseling Association; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Brill Academic Publishers, Inc
• Subjects: Attitudes; Beliefs; Counseling; Counselor and client; Counselor Attitudes; Counselor education; Counselor Training; Ethical aspects; Gays; Gays & lesbians; Graduate Students; Homosexuality; Males; Masters Programs; Political Attitudes; Psychological aspects; Religion; Social aspects; Student Attitudes; Study and teaching; Surveys; Training; United States
• ISSN: 0160-7960; 2161-007X
• DOI: 10.1002/j.2161-007X.2007.tb00084.x

The authors examined variables that could be predictive of attitudes toward gay men and lesbians. A survey was conducted with 132 counselors‐in‐training in a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (2001). Participants attended a medium‐size, regional university in the southwestern portion of the United States. Religiosity, political views, and previous experience with lesbians were the strongest predictors of attitudes toward gay men and lesbians. Future research ideas and implications for counselor education programs are discussed.