Racism and Sociopolitical Engagement Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Racial/Ethnic Minority Adults

Abstract

Experiences of discrimination due to one’s racial; ethnic; or lesbian gay, or bisexual (LGB) status have been associated with higher levels of sociopolitical involvement in racial, ethnic, and sexual minority communities. In this study, we examined (a) the associations between perceived racism in the LGB community, sociopolitical involvement in LGB racial or ethnic minority communities, and outness; and (b) whether the association between perceived racism and sociopolitical involvement in the LGB community is moderated by outness among LGB racial or ethnic minority adults. The study draws on a sample that is diverse with respect to age, gender, sexual orientation, race, and ethnicity. Results revealed that Asian American participants perceived higher levels of racism in the LGB community than Latina/o participants. Perceptions of racism in the LGB community predicted sociopolitical involvement in LGB communities. Implications of these findings are discussed.