Replication Data for: The Right Kind of (Gay) Man? Sexuality, Gender Presentation, and Heteronormative Constrains on Electability

This paper explores two key biases underpinning heteronormativity: those against homosexuality and gender nonconformity. Through a novel experimental design deploying visual and audio stimuli to manipulate the sexuality and gender presentation of men as political candidates, I uncover persisting biases among American voters. Republicans and voters desiring order and certainty penalize gay candidates while Democrats prefer them. However, both Democrats and Republicans penalize gender nonconformity. I show the acceptance of gay candidates by Democrats comes with a demand for candidates to look and sound “straight.” Moreover, I find voters penalize gender nonconformity in both gay and straight men, highlighting that heteronormative ideologies, while privileging heterosexuality over homosexuality, do not (dis)advantage all gay and straight candidates equally. Probing the contours of our egalitarianism and our understanding of who gets to walk the halls of power, these findings underscore the importance of considering status differentials both across and within census-style identity categories.