Sexual Orientation and Demand for the Arts^*

Abstract

Objective. We establish and try to explain a gay affinity for the arts. Methods. Using logit analysis on the General Social Survey, we test whether demographics, creativity, gender nonconformity, and sexual repression can explain differences between lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals (LGBs) and others in attendance at art museums, classical music concerts, and dance performances. Results.LGBs' higher education and probability of being childless city-dwellers explain one-third of the substantial attendance differences. However, LGBs do not demonstrate higher innate creativity through greater amateur production of art; gay men's affinity for the arts appears no stronger than lesbians', casting doubt on the gender nonconformity explanation; and LGB-straight attendance differences are as large among young as older respondents, despite supposed declines in the special functions of arts attendance since gay liberation. Conclusions.LGBs are much more likely to attend the arts than demographically similar heterosexuals, but we find little support for three conventional explanations.

Empirical Evidence of the Effects of Marriage on Male and Female Attendance at Sports and Arts

“…Marital state has been treated as a control variable in only a few studies. These include Peterson, Hull, and Kern (2000), Lewis and Seaman (2004), and Book and Globerman (1977). In all three, marriage has a significant negative relationship to arts attendance.…”

Determinants of Impact: Towards a Better Understanding of Encounters with the Arts

“…But is sexual orientation really a crucial determinant of an interest in the arts? There is very little research in this area, and Lewis and Seaman (2004), whose work represents a rare exception, suggest that this might be due to the difficulty in obtaining the type of data required for a systematic study of differences in the response to the arts amongst sexual minorities. The research they carried out aimed at scrutinizing some of the most common (and stereotypical) explanations for high levels of engagement with the arts amongst lesbians, gay men and bisexuals (LGBs).…”

What Is the Relationship Between Sexual Orientation, Bisexuality and Creativity?

“…Artistic ability could possibly exist without creativity; however, the common perception is that art is creative. Lewis and Seaman (2004) stated that sexual minorities are much more likely to attend the arts than demographically similar heterosexuals, but found little support for conventional explanations. Their research included men and women of diverse sexual orientations.…”

“…Few of these empirical studies were completed since the 1970s. Demb (1992) completed a literature review in the early 1990s, yet only in 2004 were two empirical studies made, following her literature review to date (Konik & Crawford, 2004;Lewis & Seaman, 2004). The goal of this paper is to enhance conversation, further discussion, and future research on this topic.…”