Painting Solidarity: The Effect of Art and Political Orientation on Political Solidarity with the LGB-community

Abstract

Despite progress, homosexual individuals still face discrimination and violence. While gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals are at the forefront of this struggle, allies can provide meaningful support through advocating and joining actions. However, little is known about how we can stimulate political solidarity towards minoritized communities. Insights from the arts offer a promising avenue: art has long played a crucial role in social change by raising awareness, challenging dominant narratives, and mobilizing collective action. To investigate the effect of art on political solidarity, 113 cishet individuals “walked through” an online art exhibition about same-sex couples. Political solidarity was measured using the Political Solidarity Measure. Participants were asked to fill out the questionnaire before and after looking at the exhibition. Political orientation was added as a moderator, seeing that an individuals’ political beliefs are expected to influence how they perceive homosexual individuals. Liberals typically prioritize social equality, therefore it was expected that art about homosexual individuals had a stronger effect on them. Results showed that there was a moderating effect of political orientation on the overall sense of political solidarity, allyship, connection and commitment towards homosexual individuals. These results explain that individuals with a liberal political orientation show more political solidarity after exposure to art, and the opposite was observed for conservative individuals. This study highlights the potential of art as a powerful tool for political mobilization, while also emphasizing the importance of carefully considering the target audience to ensure the intended impact and avoid unintended consequences.