Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1985. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The New York Times - December 15, 1985
But six in 10 adults said the outbreak of acquired immunity deficiency syndrome, which primarily affects homosexual men, intravenous drug users and hemophiliacs, had made no difference in their feelings about homosexuals.
There was little change since 1982, before the epidemic, in the number who say homosexual relations between consenting adults should be legal, but the number of those those who disapprove increased. No increase in job discrimination was found over the same period. Further, homosexuals as a group have gained greater public acceptance, the survey reports.
The poll involved telephone interviews with 1,008 adults, 18 years of age and older, from Nov. 11 to 18. The margin of sampling error was four percentage points in either direction. #37% Said Opinions Changed The survey showed that 59 percent said the AIDS epidemic made no difference in the way they felt about homosexuals, as opposed to 37 percent who reported their opinions had changed for the worse. Two percent said they were more sympathetic and 2 percent were undecided.
The Gallup organization reported that on this issue those 65 years of age and older, those whose formal education ended before graduation from high school and those with lower incomes were more likely to say their attitudes had worsened because of the AIDS epidemic.
The Gallup Poll's first such survey in 1977 showed equal numbers who said homosexual relations between consenting adults should and should not be legal. By 1982 polls showed a 45 percent plurality favoring legalization while 39 percent were opposed. The current poll showed 44 percent favoring legalization and 47 percent opposed.
A substantial number of those interviewed would withhold jobs in certain occupations from homosexuals.
The survey, which found no evidence of an increase in job discrimination since 1982, before the AIDS epidemic gained wide attention, reported that 71 percent said homosexuals should be hired as sales people, 55 percent as members of the armed forces and 52 percent as doctors. Forty-one percent said homosexuals should be hired as clergy and 38 percent favored employment by elementary schools.
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