More than 50% of all South Africans believe that homosexuals should have the same human rights as other citizens, despite more than 70% who think same-sex sexual activity is "morally wrong". This is the finding of a survey - the first of its kind - that describes South Africans as "progressive prudes" in their attitudes towards homosexuality and gender non-conformity.The survey was commissioned by the Other Foundation and was carried out by the Human Sciences Research Council, which interviewed more than 3000 people."There is a general belief that people in Africa are deeply homophobic and unaccepting of gender diversities," said the CEO of the Other Foundation Neville Gabriel. But, up to now, there had been little data to back up this belief.The report, titled "Progressive Prudes", says that more than half a million adults in the country self-identify as either homosexual, bisexual or gender non-conforming - which conforms with international ratios.More than half of all South Africans say they would "accept" a gay relative and about 80% say they would not verbally or physically abuse a gender non-conforming individual.But the results reveal about half a million - 450,000 - South Africans have, in the prior 12 months, physically harmed women who dressed and behaved like men in public and 240,000 have beaten up men who dressed and behaved like women. The survey states that "about 3million South Africans say they might commit acts of violence against gender non-conforming people in future".Pierre Brouard, deputy director of the Centre for Sexualities, Aids and Gender at the University of Pretoria called the results "a complex and sensitive set of findings"."I think it could be of value to note that, while some of the findings are alarming, the greater majority of South Africans indicate they would not be violent and this is an important counterbalance to a fearful and panicked approach," said Brouard.Attitudes are changing to be more reflective of the constitution.Between 2012 and 2015 there was a tenfold increase in the number of South Africans who "strongly agreed" with allowing same-sex marriage.In the same period the number of people who "strongly disagreed" with allowing same-sex marriage dropped from 48% to 23%.About a third of all respondents believed that same-sex orientation was a "lifestyle choice" and just more than 10% believed that it was an "illness".The Other Foundation concludes that one of the most compelling explanations for differing views on homosexuality is that perceptions are shaped by the amount of direct contact an individual has with lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gender people."In numerous studies it has been shown that what most effectively shifts people's negative perceptions of homosexual people is increased contact, especially with family members and friends," it said.The figure of more than 40% of South Africans saying that they do not know any gay or lesbian people highlights this lack of direct contact in the country. - Groundup..