Gary Horlacher surveys, 2002-2007

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Horlacher, Gary T.
Title
Gary Horlacher surveys
Dates
2002-2007 (inclusive)
Quantity
4 boxes, (1.75 linear feet)
Collection Number
UUS_COLL MSS 462
Summary
This collection contains research conducted on homosexuality among highly religious or formerly religious Mormons.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Gary Horlacher was born in Orem, Utah. He received his Ph.D. from BYU in Marriage, Family, and Human Development in 2005, then continued researching as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Southern California from 2006 to 2009. He currently teaches at Utah Valley University.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection contains research for a project conducted while Dr. Horlacher was a doctoral student at Brigham Young University and a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Southern California. When he was a doctoral student, the BYU Institutional Review Board rejected Horlacher's proposal twice: once in November 2002 and again in March 2003. Unable to complete his research while affiliated with BYU, Horlacher turned the project over to Dr. Ronald L. Schow at Idaho State University. Horlacher resumed work on the project as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Southern California. The results of his findings were published in "Coping with Injustice: A Developmental Model" a chapter in the book, Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice for All Families .

Materials include the original surveys administered by Dr. Horlacher between Fall 2002 and Winter 2003; a control survey of non-gay participants; follow-up surveys conducted between 2006 and 2007; correspondence with survey respondents, fellow researchers, and Utah State University Special Collections and Archives; Dr. Horlacher's original research proposal from BYU; and proposal reviews from BYU, ISU, and USC.

The original surveys are numbered as they were by Dr. Horlacher from 1 to 164. They are arranged from those that accept Mormonism completely and reject homosexual behavior of any kind (No. 1) to those that completely reject Mormonism and totally embrace their own homosexuality (No. 164). Surveys 1-39 were classified by Dr. Horlacher as "Strugglers" as they believe in Mormonism and reject homosexual behavior. Surveys numbered 40-132 are referred to as "Moderates." These are those who as accept a gay orientation but still believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true. Surveys numbererd 133-164 are referred to as "Secular." They don't believe in Mormonism and they do accept their sexual orientation. Nearly half of the original correspondents completed follow-up surveys. They are denoted with an “F” after the number. Their numbers correspond to their originally assigned number except No. 182 which should actually be numbered No. 165 and included with the first round of surveys but was misordered and discovered too late.

Eighteen additional participants filled out surveys the second time they were administered. Nos. 165-183 (except no. 182) are similarly arranged from high LDS believing, low homosexuality accepting (no. 165) to those who rejected LDS beliefs totally and totally embraced their homosexual identity (No. 180). Nos. 181 and 183 were also added at the end and may fit better elsewhere between the extremes.

Finally, Dr. Horlacher administered surveys to 12 non-gay participants including parents, siblings, or friends of persons who were attracted to the same sex. They are denoted with an “S” before the number. Dr. Horlacher similarly arranged them from “orthodox LDS believers” at the low end of the scale (S1) to “rebels” at the high end (S12) who, in the words of Dr. Horlacher “accept gay people but reject Mormonism.”

See Box 4 Fd 5 for Dr. Horlacher’s description of his colletion.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Gary Horlacher surveys must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: Gary Horlacher survey USU_COLL MSS 462, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations: USU_COLL MSS 462, USUSCA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection was arranged using the survey numbers assigned by Horlacher.

Processing Note

Processed in November of 2012

Acquisition Information

These materials were donated by Gary Horlacher in 2010.

Custodial History

These materials were previously held by Dr. Horlacher.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Surveys, 2002-2003Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Originals
Contains the original surveys administered by Dr. Horlacher between Fall 2002 and Winter 2003.
undated
Box Folder
1 1
1-15
undated
1 2
16-30
undated
1 3
31-45
undated
1 4
46-60
undated
1 5
61-75
undated
2 1
76-90
undated
2 2
91-105
undated
2 3
106-120
undated
2 4
121-135
undated
2 5
136-150
undated
3 1
151-164; 182
undated
Control Group
Contains the surveys of non-gay participants.
undated
Box Folder
3 2
S-1-12, Misc.
undated
Follow-Ups
Contains the surveys of non-gay participants.
undated
Box Folder
3 3
3F-42F
undated
3 4
43F-71F
undated
3 5
72F-114F
undated
3 6
115F-157F
undated
4 1
158F-176F
undated
4 2
177F-183F
undated
Summary
undated
Box Folder
4 3
Contains a spreadsheet summary of the survey.
undated

Correspondence, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
4 4
Contains correspondence, essays, to Dr. Horlacher and others connected with the survey.
undated
4 5
Contains correspondence between USU and Dr. Horlacher.
undated

Review Board, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
4 6
Contains Dr. Horlacher's survey application forms and reviews of Dr. Horlacher's survey from faculty at BYU, ISU, and USC.
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Homosexuality--Public Opinion.
  • Homosexuality--Religious aspects--Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
  • Mormon gays--Attitudes.
  • Sexual behavior surveys.
  • Social surveys.

Personal Names

  • Horlacher, Gary T. (Gary Thomas), 1967-

Corporate Names

  • Brigham Young University.
  • Idaho State University.
  • University of Southern California.