Perceptions of the Population of the Republic of Moldova - Soros ...

Perceptions of the Population of the Republic of Moldova on Discrimination: Sociological Study 31Social distance between respondents and representatives of gay andlesbian community. According to the study results, the perception of population on homosexualrelations is very negative. Thus, over 80% of respondents think that these relations are bad, 9% - that theyare neither bad, nor good, 9% don’t know, and only 1% stated that these relations are good.Chart 13. Perceptions of population on homosexual relations, %91 9are goodneither good, nor badare badI don't know81Depending on residence, the share of people who believe that such relations are bad is higher in ruralareas (84%) than in urban areas (76%), which fact indicates that respondents from urban areas are moreloyal in respect of homosexual relations.Depending on gender, women are less categorical than men. Thus, 79% of women compared to 83%of men stated that homosexual relations are bad.Depending on age, the share of people who believe that homosexual relations are bad is lower in theage group of 18-34 years (75%) and over 65 years (74%), and is higher in the age group aged 35-49 years(86%) and 50-64 years (86%). In the case of the age group 18- 34 years, we suppose that their attitudes havechanged due to communication activities conducted over the last years in the field of homosexual relationsand to the promotion of principles of tolerance. As regards the age group of over 65 years, we consider thatthese people are more loyal because a good share of them does not really know what homosexual relationsmean, while for others such relations are not a big problem, being a distant phenomenon for them.Depending on education level, people with a high level of education are more loyal in respect ofhomosexual relations than those with a low education level. Thus, 76% of respondents holding a universitydegree and 82% of respondents with primary or incomplete secondary education stated that homosexualrelations are bad.Depending on occupation, 68% of pupils and students believe that homosexual relations are bad,while 16% - that they are neither bad, nor good.The study revealed also that people for whom faith in God is very important or rather important areless tolerant towards gays and lesbians than people for whom faith in God is rather unimportant or notimportant at all. Thus, 82% of respondents for whom faith in God is very important or rather important and67% of respondents for whom faith in God is rather unimportant or not important at all think thathomosexual relations are bad.The study also revealed that, even though the respondents had the opinion that representatives of gayand lesbian community are less discriminated than persons with disabilities, the poor and HIV-positivepersons, on the level of personal attitudes this particular group is more socially isolated than the others.Thus, the Chart below shows that only 14% would agree to have representatives of gay and lesbiancommunity as neighbors, 13% - as a co-workers, 10% - as friends and 4% - as family members (see Chart 14).