Proposition 8 and Homophobic Bullying in California

Pediatrics. 2019 Jun;143(6):e20182116. doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-2116. Epub 2019 May 13.

Abstract

Background: Bias-based bullying is associated with negative outcomes for youth, but its contextual predictors are largely unknown. Voter referenda that target lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender groups may be 1 contextual factor contributing to homophobic bullying.

Methods: Data come from 14 consecutive waves (2001-2014) of cross-sectional surveys of students participating in the California Healthy Kids Survey (N = 4 977 557). Student responses were aggregated to the school level (n = 5121). Using a quasi-experimental design, we compared rates of homophobic bullying before and after Proposition 8, a voter referendum that restricted marriage to heterosexuals in November 2008.

Results: Interrupted time series analyses confirmed that the academic year 2008-2009, during which Proposition 8 was passed, served as a turning point in homophobic bullying. The rate of homophobic bullying increased (b linear = 1.15; P < .001) and accelerated (b quadratic = 0.08; P < .001) in the period before Proposition 8. After Proposition 8, homophobic bullying gradually decreased (b linear = -0.28; P < .05). Specificity analyses showed that these trends were not observed among students who reported that they were bullied because of their race and/or ethnicity, religion, or gender but not because of their sexual orientation. Furthermore, the presence of a protective factor specific to school contexts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth (gay-straight alliances) was associated with a smaller increase in homophobic bullying pre-Proposition 8.

Conclusions: This research provides some of the first empirical evidence that public campaigns that promote stigma may confer risk for bias-based bullying among youth.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Bullying / psychology*
  • California / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Crime Victims / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Crime Victims / psychology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Health Surveys / trends
  • Homophobia / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Homophobia / psychology*
  • Homophobia / trends
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Sexual Behavior / psychology*
  • Sexual and Gender Minorities / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Sexual and Gender Minorities / psychology*
  • State Government*