The cyber power of marginalized identities: Intersectional strategies of online LGBTQ+ Latinx activism

Abstract

ABSTRACT Historically, mainstream LGBTQ+ activism in the United States has excluded the voices of multiple marginalized people, particularly LGBTQ+ people of color and immigrants. Despite increasing scholarly attention to formerly subordinated voices contesting conventional approaches to activism, little is known about how these groups utilize technology to forge influential activist spaces. Through a content analysis of 10 queer Latinx activist websites and 273 distinct webpages, we utilized the concept of expressive activism to demonstrate how these organizations are forging engaging modes of intersectional virtual activism that promote social equity across race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, and immigration status. First, the websites emphasized the importance of immigrant rights and identities in working toward intersectional social justice. Second, health promotion and disease prevention as social justice appeared as prominent motifs. Third, all the websites promoted the embodiment of social activism through artistic endeavors. Finally, the websites endorsed a strengths-based approach highlighting the importance of advocacy through resilient personal and collective values. Our findings highlight how LGBTQ+ Latinx online organizations can shape more intersectionally-focused discourse surrounding social inequalities. This research can enhance awareness of the social concerns, political aims, and health needs of LGBTQ+ Latinx communities among local, regional, and national service providers and policymakers.