Accessing Counseling Services Where the Rainbow Doesn’t Shine: A Heterosexism Audit Study

Through a field experiment set among licensed therapists (N = 425), we found nuanced evidence of heterosexist discrimination at the entry point of mental health services for a fictitious White, presumably gay man seeking counseling. We called therapists in LGB-affirming and LGB-hostile states and left voicemails requesting services. To manipulate perceived sexual orientation, a confederate using the name “Jon” recorded one of three conditions...