The Influence of Job Candidate LGBT Association on Hiring Decisions

• Published in: North American journal of psychology 2019-06, Vol.21 (2), p.373-385
• Main Authors: LeCroy, Victoria R, Rodefer, Joshua S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: African Americans; Analysis; Attitudes; College students; Decision making; Discrimination; Discrimination against gays; Employment; Employment discrimination; Endorsements; Females; Gay men; Gays & lesbians; Gender identity; Harassment; Heterosexuality; Hiring; Identification; Job applicants; Job qualifications; Likert scale; Males; Qualifications; Race; Racial differences; Research centers; Sex roles; Sexual orientation; Social aspects; Stigma; Students; Transgender persons; Variance analysis; White people; Workers
• ISSN: 1527-7143

The aim of the present study was to investigate how open disclosure of participation in gay ally activities affected potential hiring decisions. One hundred seventy-two American university students (52 male,120 female; 80 Caucasian, 92 African American) reviewed two similar professional resumes for a recent male college graduate. The resumes differed with regard to involvement in gay ally activities. Following review of both resumes, participants answered a brief hiring survey about each prospective employee that assessed perceptions of fitting in, qualifications, harassment and bullying, and likelihood of hiring. Subsequently participants completed the revised Hereks' Attitude Toward Lesbian and Gay Men Scale (ATLG-R). Both African American and Caucasian participants rated the gay ally resume more harshly. Significantly, ally identification resulted in poorer ratings of all four hiring questions by African American participants. These data may suggest individuals that disclose ally status are vulnerable to altered perceptions and that minor resume information relating to gay or lesbian associations may negatively influence hiring decisions and perceptions of employment qualifications.