Abstract

Considering that the hostility toward homosexuals is widespread in Italy (Eurobarometer, 2008), the present research explored the stereotypes of the overall category as well as of different subgroups of gay men within the frame of the Stereotype content model (SCM). Participants (N = 92) rated the overall category and four subgroups on perceived warmth, competence, status, and competition. Results showed that all the targets spread across the warmth and competence dimensions. Moreover, perceived status predicted competence stereotypes while perceived competition failed to predict warmth stereotypes. Finally, gender did not moderate the attribution of warmth and competence judgments. We discussed the importance of these findings for gay men stereotyping and for the SCM.