(Withdrawn) Homophobic Behavior and Heterosexual Bystander: Understanding Colombians’ Intentions to Intervene

Background and purpose: Colombia has one of the world’s most progressive laws on Lesbian, Gays, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGB) anti-discrimination. Yet, many sexual minority Colombians experience discrimination frequently. Research shows that abusive experiences due to sexual orientation have negative impacts on mental health. Feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, and lowered-self steam are among the most common mental health effects associated with LGB harassment, discrimination, and violence. Research on bystander action shows that observers’ intervention is effective reducing LGB incidents. In Colombia, little is known about the factors influencing people’s intention to intervene when witnessing sexual minority discrimination or violence. To address this gap, this study examines heterosexual intention to intervene when witnessing mistreatment because of sexual orientation in Colombia.

Methods: This study uses data from the Colombian 2015 Demographic and Health Survey, a cross-sectional nationally representative household survey of the population (n =74,501). I use multivariate logistic regression to explore factors associated with the likelihood of intervention when witnessing mistreatment based on sexual orientation. Specifically, I explore the role of sociodemographic characteristics, attitudes towards the LGB community, religious LGB affirming, and, having LGB children on their intentions to intervene when witnessing LGB mistreatment.

Results: Findings suggest that people who hold positive attitudes towards LGB people are more likely to intervene than those who do not hold positive attitudes towards LGB individuals. Specifically, people who approve that gay couples adopt children and those who agree to grant rights to couples of the same sex have higher intentions to intervene than those who do not approve or do not agree with these statements. In the same sense, people who believe that gay or lesbian individuals have the same rights that heterosexual individuals are more likely to help the victim. Similarly, individuals who disagree with the statement that being gay or lesbian is a sin (Religious LGB affirming), and those with LGB Children have higher intentions to intervene. People living in Bogotá (Colombia´s Capital) expressed a more significant percentage of intentions to intervene than participants living in other regions. Finally, women and people with higher levels of education are associated with higher intentions to intervene.

Conclusions and implications: I examine heterosexual intention to intervene when witnessing mistreatment due to sexual orientation in Colombia. Findings suggest that attitudes towards the LGB community, religious LGB affirming, and having LGB children influence heterosexual intentions to intervene. These findings can inform public policy perspectives to supplement prevention programs with education and bystander training to reduce sexual minorities' mistreatment and create safer spaces for LGB people at schools, workplaces, and public spaces in Colombia.