According to a
recent national survey conducted by Witeck-Combs
Communications and Harris Interactive, 72% of heterosexual
adults say their feelings toward their favorite male
professional athlete would not change if the player
revealed he is gay.
The results demonstrate an increase from August
2002, when heterosexual adults were asked the same
question and 66% responded that their feelings
wouldn't change if a player came out.
Additionally, the participants of the survey
were asked what "other sports fans would feel" toward
an openly gay athlete. Results showed that 72% believe
that other sports fans would have a less favorable opinion.
However, these findings are a decrease from
2002, when 80% of the participants said they felt
other sports fans would have a less favorable opinion.
"Openly gay and lesbian athletes have
become far more visible in the nation's major
media with the coming-out of WNBA player Sheryl Swoopes
and the very recent publication of the New York
Times best seller Man in the Middle by
former NBA pro John Amaechi," said Bob Witeck, CEO of
Witeck-Combs. "Not only does public acceptance
of gay athletes seem to be on the rise, but
there's slight progress in feelings that others are
becoming more accepting as well."
The survey was conducted online by Harris
Interactive in collaboration with Witeck-Combs in the
United States between March 6 and March 14, among
2,510 adults (aged 18 and over), of whom 2,037 indicated
they are heterosexual. (The Advocate)
