UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 29, Page 2
April 28, 1994
Survey indicates acceptance of campus diversity

     Diversity of sexual orientation is widely accepted, and the work
climate is relatively supportive of this diversity, according to a recent
University-wide survey.
     Margaret Andersen, vice provost for academic affairs presented the
findings at a conference, "Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals on Campus: A
Symposium on Campus Climate," held April 22 at Arsht Hall.
     The survey, designed to determine how the campus community views
persons with differing sexual orientations in the work place and the impact
of those attitudes on the work environment, was sent to 1,016 University
employees, including graduate students, in November.
     Developed and administered by the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Concerns Caucus
of the Commission to Promote Racial and Cultural Diversity, it was compiled
and interpreted by Kristen Miller, a graduate student in sociology.
     When evaluating the climate of the work place for lesbians, gays or
bisexuals, 18 percent of those responding said it was excellent, 37 percent
said average-to-excellent, 37 percent said it was average and 8 percent
said it was poor or poor-to-average.
     In the area of perceived discrimination in the workplace, the
overwhelming majority (90 percent) rated discrimination from moderate to
none, with 10 percent replying there was extreme to extreme-to-moderate
discrimination, Andersen reported. Two persons reported they had received
negative job evaluations and one person reported not being promoted but
there were no reports of firing based on sexual orientation.
     Of those surveyed, 89 percent said they were not opposed to hiring
lesbians, gays or bisexuals; 71 percent they felt comfortable about
including them in social occasions, and 86 percent (as contrasted with  80
percent nationally) said they should have the same employment opportunities
as heterosexual persons.
     There were relatively few reports of incidents such as derogatory
terms, jokes and gossip about gays and lesbians, or being excluded from
discussions or social events because of sexual orientation. Those who
identified themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual were more likely to
report  observing these behaviors, Andersen said.
     Asked whether they favored sensitivity training about gays, lesbians
and bisexuals, 22 percent said yes, 44 percent said no and 32 percent were
uncertain.
     In other attitudes, 18 percent said they believed that lesbians and
gays push their demands too forcefully, and 24 percent said lesbians, gays
and bisexuals should not be open at work.
     Of those responding, 67 percent said that health benefits for
same-sex, lifelong partners and dependents should be provided by the
University, with some persons adding qualifying statements.
     Of those surveyed, 459 returned usable surveys, for a response rate of
45.2 percent. Of those responding, men and women were almost equally
represented; 54 percent were faculty, professional or salaried staff
members; and 46 percent were graduate students.
     Of those surveyed, 93 percent identified themselves as heterosexual
and 7 percent identified themselves as lesbian, gay or questioning.
     Because some questions on the surveys were not answered by all
respondents, the percentages do not always add up to 100 percent.
     Because the majority of respondents were heterosexual and because the
number of gay, lesbian and bisexual respondents was small, the findings may
not generalize to this group, Andersen said.
                                                  -Sue Swyers Moncure