Gay and Racial/Ethnic Identities, Perceived Discrimination, and Participation in Collective Actio

This dissertation explores the participation of gays of color in collective action on behalf of the LGBT community and racial/ethnic communities. It seeks to understand the drivers behind the participation of gay African Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and Latinos, particularly the impact of discrimination they perceive from society, their own racial/ethnic communities, and white gays. It also examines the influence of gay and racial/ethnic identities in the participation of gays of color. Statistical analysis of survey data of 727 self-identified gay women and men of color and content analysis of nine focus group transcripts involving 78 gays of color confirms that perceived discrimination from society facilitates participation in collective action on behalf of the LGBT community and racial/ethnic communities. Likewise, perceived discrimination from racial/ethnic communities leads to participation on behalf of the LGBT community, while perceived discrimination from white gays leads to participation on behalf of racial/ethnic communities. Surprisingly, perceived discrimination from racial/ethnic communities and gay whites also facilitates participation on behalf of racial/ethnic communities and the LGBT community. Findings are explained by the strong identification gays of color have with the LGBT community and their own racial ethnic communities. Made aware of the lower status of gays and people of color by the discrimination they perceive, gays of color participate in collective strategies aimed at improving the lives of other gays and people of color. Gay African Americans, however, appear less inclined to support LGBT and national race organizations. This is due in part to the sense that these groups do not represent people of color, especially mainstream LGBT organizations which are perceived as catering to gay middle-class white men and their issues.