Radical Right Supporters and Opposition to LGBTQ Equality: Evidence from France, Italy, and Spain

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between support for radical right parties and attitudes toward LGBTQ equality in France, Italy, and Spain. While recent scholarship suggests increasing liberalization of public opinion, comparative research continues to identify radical right constituencies as important reservoirs of opposition to sexual and gender equality. Using comparative public opinion data, the study analyses attitudes toward same-sex parental and adoption rights. The findings reveal a consistent association between support for radical right parties and opposition to LGBTQ equality across all three countries. Individuals more likely to support radical right parties are significantly more prone to reject equal rights for same-sex couples. The study highlights the central role of moral traditionalism and cultural conflict in contemporary radical right politics and mobilization.