The rainbow connection: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender social networks and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender–inclusive education in the United States

This paper investigates the association between Americans' lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) social networks and their views on LGBT issues in education. We use nationally representative, probability-based survey data to examine Americans' exposure to LGBT individuals in their networks. Using item response theory and multiple regression, we explore the relationship between types of LGBT social networks and their support for LGBT-related scenarios in schools. Those who have LGBT individuals in their social networks express greater support for LGBT scenarios in schools, though the associations are stronger for individuals with LGBT friends than those with LGBT family members or other social relations. We also find that having a transgender individual in one's social network is more strongly associated with support for LGBT-related scenarios in schools than having an LGB-only network (this is true for both LGB and transgender-related scenarios). While correlational, our results point to the potential value of LGBT exposure in social networks for shaping views about LGBT issues in schools. The extremely low levels of exposure, particularly to transgender people, may be contributing to low levels of support for LGBT issues in schools.