Watching porn makes straight men more receptive to the idea of same-sex marriage, new study claims

Effect was particularly marked in less-well educated men, researchers say

• They believe porn may open men's minds to alternative sexual situations
• Research has shown 30 per cent of all internet traffic is porn

By DAMIEN GAYLE

PUBLISHED: 13:00 EST, 4 February 2013 | UPDATED: 13:27 EST, 4 February 2013

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Same-sex marriage: Heterosexual men warm to the idea of gay marriage more if they watch pornography

Campaigners for same-sex marriage have always come up against particularly vociferous opposition from heterosexual men.

But a study from the U.S. has suggested a novel method of persuading them to soften their stance on the divisive issue: get them to watch dirty videos.

The new academic analysis suggests that the more that straight men watch pornography, the more they warm to the idea that two people of the same sex could be married.

Paul Wright, assistant professor of communications at Indiana University and author of the study, said the effect was particularly marked in men who were less-well educated.

He said the change in attitude could because of pornography opens their mind to accepting non-traditional sexual situations - like those involving participants of the same sex.

'Our study suggests that the more heterosexual men, especially less educated heterosexual men, watch pornography, the more supportive they become of same-sex marriage,' he told the

He went on: 'Pornography adopts an individualistic, non-judgemental stance on all kinds of non-traditional sexual behaviours and same-sex marriage attitudes are strongly linked to attitudes about same-sex sex.

'If people think individuals should be able to decide for themselves whether to have same-sex sex, they will also think that individuals should be able to decide for themselves whether to get married to a partner of the same-sex.'

Mind opening: The change in attitude could because of pornography opens the minds of men to accepting non-traditional sexual situations - like those involving participants of the same sex

The results of the study, published in the journal Communication Research, could be interpreted as suggesting that backers of same sex marriage should encourage men to watch more port

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2273376/Watching-porn-makes-straight-men-receptive-idea-sex-marriage-new-study-claims.html#ixzz2K5XE31rX