Most Israelis would accept a gay child
Kobi Nahshoni
07.07.07 - www.YnetNews.com
“And if your son came to you and said, ‘Dad, I’m gay,’ how would you
respond?” If you’ve ever joined in a living-room chat, there’s
no way you haven’t been asked that question. The uproar surrounding
Jerusalem’s Gay pride events has abated, and now, a couple of weeks' later,
we have some answers: According to a Ynet-Gesher poll, 73 percent of
respondents would accept a gay child, even if it’s difficult, but for 27
percent a child’s coming out of the closet would affect the relationship
with the child. The survey was conducted by Mutagim among a
representative nationwide sample of the adult, Hebrew-speaking Jewish
population.
A mother’s heart
In answer to the question, “How would you respond if your son or daughter informed you that they have homosexual tendencies?” 43 percent stated that they would be very sorry but would accept their child and the child’s partner as they are, while 30 percent stated that “if this is what is good for him, I have no problem with it,” making a total of 73 percent who said they would accept their child’s homosexual tendencies.
In contrast, 15 percent said they would be very angry with the child but would maintain the minimal contact necessary, and 12 percent stated that homosexual relations are in the category of “be killed rather than transgress” and that therefore they would cut off contact with a gay child.
An analysis of the findings shows that women have greater tolerance on this issue than men: 79 percent of the mothers said that they would accept their children in spite of their sexual preference, and only 21 percent would let it harm their connection with their child, as opposed to 66 percent and 34 percent respectively for fathers.
Harder for haredim Haredim, as expected, would have a very extreme
response, with 55 percent stating that they would cut off all contact with
the child, 35 percent saying they would cut off some contact, and only 10
percent stating that they would accept the situation. Among the religious, 40 percent stated that they
would be sorry but would be forced to accept the situation, 27 percent would
cut off contact, 26 percent would maintain minimal contact, and only 7
percent stated that “if that is what is good for the child, I have no
problem with it.” Among respondents who are religiously traditional and
secular there is more acceptance (70 percent and 86 percent, respectively),
but there are still those who would cut off all contact with their child (8
percent of traditional respondents and 9 percent of secular respondents).
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