Minority capacity in rural communities: Stakeholder perceptions of sexual and gender minority individuals and families experiences of housing instability

Across the U.S., only 22 states and DC have laws that explicitly prohibit housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (Movement Advancement Project [MAP], 2018-2022). The Supreme Court landmark ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County found that employee protections against discrimination based on sex includes discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Subsequently, President Biden’s Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation (2021) motivated the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to confirm that the Fair Housing Act (1988) also protects sexual orientation and gender identity under sex, making housing discrimination across the nation illegal by extending protections to LGBTQ Americans in 18 states and five territories. Regardless of federal nondiscrimination policies, sexual and gender minority (SGM) people report high levels of housing instability (Fraser et al., 2019; Kattari et al., 2016). Because federal policies have fluctuated across presidential administrations, SGM individuals and families are increasingly reliant on municipal or organizational policies to ensure housing protections. Whether such policies exist or are recognized can vary depending on community characteristics, such as religiosity and conservatism. The current study uses a mixed-method, multiple community case study design to examine community stakeholder perceptions of the needs, barriers, and social climate for unstably housed SGM populations across three rural or nonmetropolitan communities with varying degrees of LGBTQ nondiscrimination protective policies. The study also explores organizational and political capacity within each community and seeks to understand ways in which housing instability affects the health and well-being of SGM populations in rural or nonmetropolitan communities. The Minority Capacity Framework is used as a strength-based, multi-theoretical guide that combines elements of minority stress theory (Meyer, 2003) and theory of community action and change (Mancini & Bowen, 2013) to highlight general (e.g., unemployment) and minority stressors (e.g., discrimination) as well as social organizational opportunities (e.g., informal and formal networks). In-depth interviews were conducted with stakeholders (n = 26) from three rural or nonmetropolitan communities, including one Kentucky community with no protections, another Kentucky community with organizational and municipal protections, and an Illinois community with municipal and state protections. Additional data included participant observations, political archives, publicly available data (e.g., U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD], 2021), and online survey data from rural queer Kentuckians (n = 108). Qualitative data (e.g., interview, archival, open-ended survey responses) were analyzed using grounded theory (e.g., initial, axial, and selective) coding strategies and constant comparative analysis (Charmaz, 2014; Strauss & Corbin 1998). Closed-ended survey data were analyzed with SPSS. Data were analyzed using descriptive qualitative and quantitative methods. Findings reveal an organizational bystander effect in which neither housing nor queer stakeholders prioritize the target population. Despite varying degrees of protective policy, LGBTQ individuals, especially transgender women, face obstacles when accessing shelter services. Stakeholders’ limited LGBTQ competency and finite resources leave LGBTQ people vulnerable, receiving inadequate care or being outsourced to metropolitan areas with more queer resources. Even when a community had adequate policies, stakeholders lacked the training to determine and provide adequate shelter placement and care based on gender. Affirming faiths were an impetus toward change and are uniquely situated as a potential bridge uniting housing and queer capacity efforts. Findings have implications for policy and practice to provide stakeholders with tools for being inclusive and affirming of unstably housed LGBTQ individuals and families in rural or nonmetropolitan communities.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Human Dvlpmt & Family Studies

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2022

Author dc:creator

• Routon, Jasmine Marie

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hardesty, Jennifer
• Oswald, Ramona Faith
• Jarrett, Robin
• Kwon, Soo Ah
• Breazeale, Nicole

• Sexual and gender minority populations
• LGBTQ individuals and families
• housing instability
• community capacity
• rural development
• policy
• religion

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2022 Jasmine Marie Routon

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/116090

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F116090