Attitude Toward Lesbians and Gays: Do Demographic Factors Influence Public Opinion in Ghana?

This study investigates the influence of demographic factors on public attitudes toward lesbians and gays in Ghana, a context marked by strong cultural and religious opposition to homosexuality. Using a quantitative cross-sectional survey design and drawing on Katz’s Functionalist Theory of Attitudes, the research explores how age, gender, religion, education, political affiliation, and marital status shape perceptions of homosexuality. A survey of 404 respondents was conducted using a validated attitudinal scale and analysed through exploratory factor analysis and logistic regression. The findings reveal that age, gender, religion, and education significantly predict negative attitudes, while political affiliation, marital status, and sexual orientation show no statistical association. The results suggest that attitudes serve multiple psychological and social functions, including value expression, social adjustment, and ego defence. The study highlights the need for culturally sensitive policy interventions that promote tolerance through education, dialogue, and inclusive civic engagement, while simultaneously acknowledging Ghana’s legal and moral frameworks. These insights contribute to understanding the socio-psychological dynamics of homonegativity and offer pathways for fostering respectful coexistence in pluralistic societies.