Exploring the community-based involvement of Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ adults

Research and theory about the lived experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer+ (LGBTQ+) populations are often characterized by both stress and resilience. One protective factor that is commonly explored is community-based involvement or one’s behavioral engagement with the LGBTQ+ community. Few studies specifically center the involvement of Black and Latinx LGBTQ+. Although scant, previous research suggests that there are underexamined complexities to the community-based involvement of Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ that relate to their multiple marginalized social identities and access to various identity-related communities. As an extension of previous research, the current study utilizes data from the 2010 Social Justice Sexuality Project to describe the community-based involvement of Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ Adults (N = 2,518) across three relevant community spaces (i.e., LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ BIPOC). Sociopolitical Involvement (SPI) – a type of community-based involvement – references one’s participation in social and cultural events that address community issues or concerns (Battle & Harris, 2013). Using Latent Profile Analysis (LPA), findings revealed six subtypes of SPI: LGBTQ+ Gateway Engager, Occasional Engagers, Intersectional Community Enthusiasts, Mainstream Engagers, Immersed Community Members, and LGBTQ+ Focused Affiliates. Intersectional Community Enthusiasts indicated a particularly unique pattern of SPI that related to significantly higher connectedness, religiosity/spirituality, sexual identity outness, and psychological well-being. Key findings exhibited the utility of considering multiple sites of community-based involvement when exploring the engagement behaviors of Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ Adults.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2021

Author dc:creator

• Williams, Briana J

Contributors dc:contributor

• Neville, Helen
• Hund, Anita
• Cromley, Jennifer
• Oswald, Ramona

• Community
• LGBTQ
• Queer
• BIPOC
• Community Involvement
• Sociopolitical Involvement
• Black
• Latinx
• Participation

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2020 Briana Williams

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/109406

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/109406