Conspiratorial threat and intergroup boundaries: How exposure to anti-LGBTQ+ narratives shapes beliefs, identity, and civic engagement

Nowadays, the use of conspiratorial narratives targeting marginalized groups, such as the LGBTQ+ community, is increasingly pervasive. These narratives depict LGBTQ+ people as a threat to the social order, undermining their rights and social inclusion. Across four studies (N = 2111), we experimentally investigated hether exposure to an anti-LGBTQ+ conspiratorial narrative affects conspiracy beliefs and civic engagement among cis-heterosexual people. Results showed that exposure to conspiratorial narrative increased the endorsement of anti-LGBTQ+ conspiracy beliefs, which, in turn, were associated with lower perception of interconnectedness with LGBTQ+ people, lower support for progressive collective action, lower support for inclusive education programs at school, and lower altruistic behavior toward LGBTQ+ individuals. Our findings highlight how conspiratorial narratives might fuel discriminatory beliefs and subtly erode intergroup solidarity and civic engagement. Addressing these processes is crucial to tackling the harmful effects of conspiratorial narratives and designing interventions to counter the spread and impact of conspiracy-driven rhetoric.