Survey says…
A brief bit of discussion on the delurking post from last week regarding an apparent minority of gay Republicans (who seemed surprised to discover each other here) made me start wondering about political orientation, sexuality, and how much the former is affected by the latter. There is a general assumption that most homosexuals, bisexuals, and transgenders will be far-left, very liberal, definitely Democrats whose major political hot button is always GBLTQ rights - but is that really true?
Out of curiosity I put together this quick ten-question survey for my readers here. I like learning about you guys (and gals, and everything outside and in between), and hearing about varying viewpoints from all over the rainbow spectrum – so if you could take just a minute to take this survey, I’d really appreciate it. You can answer with just the letters, or you can add your expanded views on each question; it’s up to you how much or how little you want to say.
Now I’m aware, due to the type of site that this is, that the general reader base is going to be a bit slanted in a certain direction - so the survey is more a sample of the general feelings of the GBLTQ community and its supporters. If, however, you have friends that don’t quite agree with you on GBLTQ issues and you think they’d be interested in the survey, feel free to send ‘em this way; I’d love to hear from them as well.
Enough out of me; on with the survey!
1. I am:
(a) gay/lesbian
(b) straight
(c) bisexual
(d) transgender
(e) questioning/not really sure
(f) asexual
2. My gender:
(a) female (biological or MtF)
(b) male (biological or FtM)
(c) biologically intersexed
(d) androgynous/genderqueer
3. My age:
(a) Under 13 (what are you doing on this site, kiddo?)
(b) 13-17
(c) 18-25
(d) 26-35
(e) 36-45
(f) 46 or older
4. My “out” status:
(a) completely out of the closet
(b) only out to some people
(c) totally closeted
(d) I already told you I’m straight, you daffy blighter.
5. My political affiliation is:
(a) Republican
(b) Democrat
(c) Independent
(d) Other (please specify)
(e) Pointedly Disinterested (which gets caps because it’s a large
enough faction to be its own party)
6. I consider myself:
(a) very conservative
(b) moderately conservative
(c) a fence-straddler
(d) moderately liberal
(e) very liberal
(f) I really can’t stand the terms “liberal” and “conservative”.
7. I plan to vote in the 2008 US Presidential election:
(a) yes
(b) no
(c) only if a candidate I can really endorse is on the ballot
(d) I’m not old enough to vote
(e) I’m not a US citizen and don’t much care for your elections, aside
from hoping you don’t do anything silly. Again.
8. I feel that my sexuality affects my political leanings:
(a) only a little
(b) only a lot
(c) not at all
9. A candidate’s stance on GLBTQ issues affects my view of them:
(a) very strongly
(b) moderately
(c) only a teensy bit
(d) not at all
10. The political issue that I feel the most strongly about is ___________________. (No, this one’s not multiple choice. Fill in the blank, hm? I’m not going to assume what your issues might be. Feel free to elaborate as much as you want.)
If you don’t want to discuss your political views and sexuality openly, you can post anonymously; in the section of the comments field that asks for your name, just fill in “Anonymous” or “None of Your Business” or anything you want other than your own name or the name you use most commonly on the site. Also, if I left an answer off that you feel better applies to you than any of the options available, then write it in; if you want to address a related question that I didn’t ask, such as “Do you think party platforms make them more attractive to people of a certain sexuality?” or anything else, knock yourselves out. Feel free to discuss your responses with each other, or ask me any questions about mine. And if you’re wondering what my answers are:
1. a; 2. b; 3. d; 4. a; 5. c; 6. f; 7. a; 8. a; 9. b; 10. separation of church and state.
And I’m done for now. I may post again later today; I haven’t skimmed the news yet, so I don’t know if there’s anything in current events/gay life that I might find rant-worthy - though on an off-topic slant, some people might find this just a little infuriating (although I’ll leave any ranting on that to more qualified people, such as my various readers or April over at Her Daily News). In case I don’t post again, though…see ya’ll (yes, ya’ll, so shoot me for being Southern - at least I don’t have the accent) tomorrow.
~Adri
Edit: It’s been brought to my attention that in my sleepy thoughtlessness, I left “asexual” off the choices for sexuality. It’s on there now. Sorry for the oversight.
gbltq politics, lgbt politics, gay and lesbian politics, gay republicans, gay democrats, 2008 presidential elections, sexuality and politics
October 9th, 2007 at 5:33 am
1. I am:
(b) overall straight
2. My gender:
(a) female (biological or MtF)
3. My age:
(c) 18-25
4. My “out” status:
(d) I already told you I’m straight, you daffy blighter.
5. My political affiliation is:
(d) Other (please specify)
I am a socialist. (I might have been catholic democrat if those parties hadn’t forgotten about their christian label. The only truly catholic party left is extreme right, so no thanks)
6. I consider myself:
(c) a fence-straddler
For some issues I’m liberal, for others conservative.
7. I plan to vote in the 2008 US Presidential election:
(e) I’m not a US citizen and don’t much care for your elections, aside
from hoping you don’t do anything silly. Again.
Vote for the girl xD
8. I feel that my sexuality affects my political leanings:
(b) not at all
9. A candidate’s stance on GLBTQ issues affects my view of them:
(b) moderately
10. The political issue that I feel the most strongly about is care for the environment and preserving of the Earth. Unfortunately, that’s not very high up on the list of many major parties. The smaller ones who do care hardly get into the government.
________________________________________________________________________
As for that link… The universe never fails to produce a bigger idiot, does it?
October 9th, 2007 at 8:23 am
1. I am: (c) bisexual
2. My gender: (b) male (biological or FtM)
3. My age: (c) 18-25
4. My “out” status: (b) only out to some people
5. My political affiliation is: (c) Independent
6. I consider myself: (d) moderately liberal
7. I plan to vote in the 2008 US Presidential election: (a) yes
8. I feel that my sexuality affects my political leanings: (c) not at all
9. A candidate’s stance on GLBTQ issues affects my view of them: (b) moderately
10. The political issue that I feel the most strongly about is _censorship_. In one word, at least. More specifically, the legality of writing/drawing about certain subjects, obscenity laws, as well as the ESRB and Movie/TV Ratings thing. They tried to pass a law here in MI that would make Video Game store clerks check ID in order to sell M-rated games to minors, with possible jail-time and at least a fine, and probably passing along some of it to their business. Just like, yanno, as if they’d sold tobacco or alcohol.
The laws of tobacco and alcohol are also out of whack. You know that if you came to my store, I’d be legally required to card you? I can sell to 18/21-yos, but I can be fined, fired, and jailed if I don’t card people under the ages of 27 for tobacco, and 37 for alcohol. And my company rounds the ages up to the nearest ten. Insanity.
Also, did you know that in #9 you have (b) twice? I assumed that the second ‘b’ was meant to be a C.
October 9th, 2007 at 8:30 am
That’s what I get for putting this thing together at three in the morning. Thanks for catching that, Reynai. I fixed it.
October 9th, 2007 at 11:00 am
1. (c) bisexual
2. (a) female (biological or MtF)
3. (d) 26-35
4. (b) only out to some people
5. (d) Other (please specify)
Social Democrat, in the Norwegian sense. I don’t think America’s political figures would ever go as far as they have.
6. (f) I really can’t stand the terms “liberal” and “conservative”.
7. (a) yes
8. (a) only a little
9. (b) moderately
10. Equal rights, for everyone.
October 9th, 2007 at 11:26 am
1. A
2. A
3. C
4. A
5. A
6. C
7. A
8. B
9. B
10. The political issue that I feel the most strongly about is finding a strategy to get out of Iraq without leaving the place to fall apart again.
October 9th, 2007 at 11:34 am
1.b 2.a 3.d 4.d 5.e 6.f 7.a 8.b 9.b 10. separation of church and state (because the mass destruction of stupid people for some reason doesn’t seem to count)
October 9th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
1. I am:
(b) straight
2. My gender:
(a) female (biological or MtF)
3. My age:
(c) 18-25
4. My “out” status:
(d) I already told you I’m straight, you daffy blighter.
5. My political affiliation is:
(c) Independent
6. I consider myself:
(d) moderately liberal
7. I plan to vote in the 2008 US Presidential election:
(c) only if a candidate I can really endorse is on the ballot
8. I feel that my sexuality affects my political leanings:
(a) only a little
9. A candidate’s stance on GLBTQ issues affects my view of them:
(b) moderately
10. The political issue that I feel the most strongly about is abortion/right to choose.
October 9th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
1 b
2 a/d
3 c
4 b (haven’t raved about it, expect people to be able to work it out)
5 d (British and thus not quite aligned with your parties. Vaguely leftist, very political, no trust of any politicians)
6 e
7 e
8 a
9 b
10 The political issue I feel most strongly about varies a lot, but at the moment it’s the rates of violence occurring within Britain, and ways of tackling that. A goth girl was beaten so badly that her gender wasn’t initially identifiable and she later died of her injuries. No real reason- the thugs responsible didn’t do it to get her wallet or anything, it was just an act of violence. I want a safe, stable (or at least non-violence) place to live. I’d also like it if subcultures were also protected under the hate crimes act. We get attacked physically with the same hateful vehemence that members of sexual, racial and religious minorities do, so I feel we should get the same protection.
October 9th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
1. I am:
(a) gay/lesbian
2. My gender:
(a) female (biological or MtF)
3. My age:
(b) 13-18
4. My “out” status:
(b) only out to some people (baisically out to everyone by=ut my parents… And I tried)
5. My political affiliation is:
(b) Democrat (Though quite frankly I am so far to the left of the democratic party that they frustrate me… But I just registered to vote and I registered democrat, so that is what I will answer)
6. I consider myself:
(e) very liberal
7. I plan to vote in the 2008 US Presidential election:
(a) yes
8. I feel that my sexuality affects my political leanings:
I’m torn between a and b… If a politician was seriously against LGBT rights, I could not support them, but if I thought someone was a worthwhile candidate, and it just wasn’t part of what they talked about/focused on, I could support them…
(a) only a little
(b) only a lot
9. A candidate’s stance on GLBTQ issues affects my view of them:
(b) moderately
10. The political issue that I feel the most strongly about is education and health care (after that would be LGBT rights). (No, this one’s not multiple choice. Fill in the blank, hm? I’m not going to assume what your issues might be. Feel free to elaborate as much as you want.)
October 9th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
1. (c) bisexual
2. (a) female (biological or MtF)
3. (b) 13-18
4. (b) only out to some people
5…I am english, I do not understand this republican/democratness you have over there. I’m going for (d) other.
6. varying between (d), (e) and anarchy.
7. (e) I’m not a US citizen and don’t much care for your elections, aside from hoping you don’t do anything silly. Again. (I’m not even sure if I can be bothered to vote in British elections, let alone yours.)
8. (a) only a little. Because it affects political policy, depending on the party. But it shouldn’t.
9. (b) moderately.
10. oh dear…I’m a politics student, I don’t think you want to get me started…I’ll settle for the erosion of civil liberties and political spindoctering. And now I’ll go before I start ranting…
October 9th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
~changes 1. to f~
October 9th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
[sheepish look] Sorry ’bout that, Amanda.
Shirvona: Rant away! I love ranting. ’bout time someone other than me did a little of it.
October 9th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
1. (c) bisexual
2. A little of category (a), a little of category (d), if that makes any sense.
3. (c) 18-25
4. (b) only out to some people
5. (c) independent
6. (e) very liberal
7. (a) yes
8. (c) not at all
9. (a) very strongly
10. The political issue that I feel the most strongly about is generally related to the weakening of offices such as the surgeon general’s, since that has snowballed to affect so much else.
October 9th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
1. I am:(c) bisexual
2. My gender:(a) female (biological or MtF)
3. My age:(d) 26-35
4. My “out” status:(b) only out to some people
5. My political affiliation is:
(a) Republican
6. I consider myself:
(b) moderately conservative
7. I plan to vote in the 2008 US Presidential election:
(a) yes
8. I feel that my sexuality affects my political leanings:
(a) only a little
9. A candidate’s stance on GLBTQ issues affects my view of them:
(b) moderately
10. The political issue that I feel the most strongly about is illegal immigration. ’nuff said.
October 9th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
1. I am: (e) questioning/not really sure
2. My gender: (a) female (biological or MtF)
3. My age: (c) 18-25
4. My “out” status: (d) I already told you I’m straight, you daffy blighter. (Well mostly. Like I said I’m not sure.)
5. My political affiliation is: (somewhere between)(c)Independent /(e) Pointedly Disinterested
When there is an issue that SOMEONE is actually willing and able to do something in order to fix it, I can get behind them. I don’t really care what party they’re from. Otherwise all I hear is the white noise of endless political lies. Terrible, horrible, world-breaking white noise.
6. I consider myself: (c) a fence-straddler / (f) I really can’t stand the terms “liberal” and “conservative”. (Since liberal and conservative have practically become synonyms-and slurs thrown to and fro- for democrat and republican see above for my answer.)
7. I plan to vote in the 2008 US Presidential election: (c) only if a candidate I can really endorse is on the ballot
8. I feel that my sexuality affects my political leanings: (somewhere between) (a) only a little / (c) not at all (If it does then its only because I’m not really sure which way I lean sexually. I do know that I don’t believe its right to discriminate based on sexual identity and preference, so I could never really fully edorse a political party/candidate that believes ‘The Gay is Evil’.) I’m not sure if my answer really counts. Its kind of hard to make sense of it. *shrug*
9. A candidate’s stance on GLBTQ issues affects my view of them: (b) moderately (see above. Of course sexual identity and orientation arn’t everything, but come on people! This is basic human rights we’re talking about.)
10. The political issue that I feel the most strongly about is… well, there are a couple. I have nightmares of Bill Clinton getting back into the white house, even if its only as spouse to the first female President. If they keep a restraining order on him and that place I might be able to put up with Hilary(If she wins of course). I’m more peeved at this whole ‘Christian Soldiers fighting the New Crusade in the the Middle East’ bulls*@T thats been swamping the country lately. Not only is it costing lives, but its giving great momentum to the abolishment of separation of church and state. *fumes*
Alright, enough out of me.
October 9th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
1 f : 2 a : 3 f : 4 d : 5 b : 6 c : 7 a : 8 c : 9 b : currently - childrens health, the whole church/state/seperation is always an issue.
October 9th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
1. I am:
(c) bisexual
2. My gender:
(a) female (biological or MtF)
3. My age:
(c) 18-25 (18 to be exact)
4. My “out” status:
(a) completely out of the closet
5. My political affiliation is:
(d) Other (Socialist, in the Marxist sense of the word. I suppose that’s why the whole Welfare issue is a big issue for me.)
6. I consider myself:
(f) I really can’t stand the terms
“liberal” and “conservative. (though if I had to pick one, i’m closest to a liberal, though it’s my heart that tells me what my stance on issues are. I tend to believe people should have the choice to believe and act as they wish as long as they don’t hurt another person…heh i’m an idealist.)
7. I plan to vote in the 2008 US Presidential
election:
(a) yes (if I’m still living in the USA that is. Planning on moving to England.)
8. I feel that my sexuality affects my political
leanings:
(c) not at all (for me they are completely seperate, my plotical leanings are dictated completly by my ideals)
9. A candidate’s stance on GLBTQ issues affects
my view of them:
(b) moderately (about equally to other humanitary issues, as well as environmental.)
10. The political issue that I feel the most
strongly about is funding for Welfare, though I tend to feel strongly about all humanitarian issues such as abortion and monitary aide to third world countries. Personally I don’t think that sexual preference has need to be a part of politics.
October 9th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
1. I am:
(c) bisexual [leaning more towards women though]
2. My gender:
(a) female
3. My age:
(c) 18-25
4. My “out” status:
(b) only out to some people [only to other women i've been attracted to, really. I wouldn't dare tell my family!]
5. My political affiliation is:
(e) Pointedly Disinterested
6. I consider myself:
(c) a fence-straddler [I come from a conservative family so I still have conservatice views]
7. I plan to vote in the 2008 US Presidential election:
(e) I’m not a US citizen [Canadian!]
8. I feel that my sexuality affects my political leanings:
(a) only a little
9. A candidate’s stance on GLBTQ issues affects my view of them:
(b) moderately
10. I’m kind of tied between the right to choose, equality, and the war in Iraq.
October 9th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
1. Gay.
2. Biological male.
3. 21, though getting close to 22.
4. I’m out here at college, but no one back in my hometown has been told. Conservative Texas town of 300 people, you know.
5. Largely disenchanted, but I’ll vote if I think there’s someone I can put a little faith in. So not so much Republican.
6. I’m probably moderately liberal, though I’m not a fan of the labels. They tend to carry a bad connotation.
7. Yes, I plan to vote in the 2008 election.
8. My being gay affects things a good bit. I hope for the better, of course.
9. How a candidate feels about gays, etc. probably makes or breaks my vote.
10. Mostly the gay thing.
And the answer to the unasked eleventh question? I didn’t post in the delurk because I posted in the Kinsey Scale blog. So technically I’m not a lurker. Technically.
October 10th, 2007 at 1:27 am
1. I am:(c) bisexual…er, I guess?
2. My gender:(d) androgynous/genderqueer
3. My age:(b) 13-18… or (c) 18-25 (is there a reason 18 is on there twice, and I’m just missing it?)
4. My “out” status:(b) only out to some people
5. My political affiliation is: I don’t affiliate. I don’t even affiliate with the other people who don’t affiliate, I am that unaffiliated.
6. I consider myself:(f) I really can’t stand the terms “liberal” and “conservative”.
7. I plan to vote in the 2008 US Presidential election:(a) yes
8. I feel that my sexuality affects my political leanings:(a) only a little
9. A candidate’s stance on GLBTQ issues affects my view of them:(b) moderately
10. I don’t know if there is just one issue I feel the most strongly about. I tend to argue all of my beliefs equally. I do wish we could all just play nicely together, and ideally things concerning sexuality and religion wouldn’t be political issues at all.
October 10th, 2007 at 7:07 am
[...] to tell my father about my sexuality? by Adrien-Luc Sanders Thanks to everyone who participated in yesterday’s survey. The results were about as (welcomely) diverse as I expected, even though a largely female sample [...]
October 10th, 2007 at 10:24 am
1. C
2. B
3. C
4. A - Not marching in any parades, but I never say no if someone asks me.
5. A
6. F
7. A - Ron Paul all the way
8. A - I think of myself as a man first, and a gay man second
9. B - So long as they don’t think we need to be rounded up and “cured”, they can espouse all the rhetoric they choose
10. a tie between illegal immigration and foreign policy. Both borders should be menacingly policed with dogs and guns and large, Rover bubbles (wait, too many re-runs of “The Prisoner” late at night on PBS). Just the same, should we stop giving financial aid to the first and second world, there would be enough to seriously help the third world (or our own deficit, if one happens to be an isolationist).
October 10th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
1. (a) lesbian
2. (a) female
3. (d) 26-35
4. (a) completely out of the closet
5. (e) Pointedly Disinterested
6. (d) moderately liberal
7. (a) yes, I plan to vote
8. (a) only a little
9. (b) moderately
10. Equality
October 10th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
1. lesbian
2. female
3. 18
4. Out to…three, four people. None of them family.
5. Pointedly Disinterested
6. a fence-straddler
7. British!
8. Barely
9. I’m to young to have a party. Everyone’s gonna get screwed over somehow, its just a case of how subtle the politions are.
10. The Iraq war. My brother’s out there.
October 10th, 2007 at 11:26 pm
1. Straight enough.
2. Apathetic. With boobs.
3. 18-25
4. I already told you I’m straight, you daffy blighter.
5. Registered Democrat.
6. Socially liberal, fiscally moderate
7. I will be voting, even if I feel its a waste of time
8. not at all
9. A candidate’s stance on GLBTQ issues affects my view of them: moderately. To me, it’s a litmus test of how people view differences, and how willing they are to enact unpopular changes.
10. The political issue that I feel the most strongly about is: Energy policy.
October 13th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
1. I am:
(f) asexual
2. My gender:
(a) female (biological or MtF)
3. My age:
(c) 18-25
4. My “out” status:
(b) only out to some people.
5. My political affiliation is:
(c) Independent (Libertarian, who knows why. I usually vote Democrat.)
6. I consider myself:
(c) a fence-straddler
7. I plan to vote in the 2008 US Presidential election:
(a) yes
8. I feel that my sexuality affects my political leanings:
(a) only a little
9. A candidate’s stance on GLBTQ issues affects my view of them:
(b) moderately
10. The political issue that I feel the most strongly about is capital punishment. (Pro, to clarify.)
October 15th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
I’m a latecomer to this party. Here goes:
1. I am:
(b) straight
2. My gender:
(a) female (biological or MtF)
3. My age:
(f) 46 or older
4. My “out” status:
(d) I already told you I’m straight, you daffy blighter.
5. My political affiliation is:
(b) Democrat
6. I consider myself:
(d) moderately liberal
7. I plan to vote in the 2008 US Presidential election:
(a) yes
8. I feel that my sexuality affects my political leanings:
(c) not at all
9. A candidate’s stance on GLBTQ issues affects my view of them:
(a) very strongly
10. The political issue that I feel the most strongly about is civil rights/liberties, which is why number 9 was answered the way it was.
I’m getting mightily tired of GLBTQ people being demonized by the right and marginalized by everyone else. It’s so frickin’ ridiculous. Live and let live. Is that really so hard a concept?
And civil unions vs. gay marriage? Separate but equal didn’t work for African Americans. Why makes these idiots think it will work for GLBTQ Americans? I’m so disgusted with the leading candidates for my party right now I could just spit. At least Kucinich and Gravel have it right, but neither will be the nominee.
I suppose civil unions are better than nothing at all, but I still think every American citizen should have full civil rights and liberties.
March 18th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Well said, finally a good report on this stuff