Background
Those who identify as racial1-3 or sexual minorities4 experience discrimination in myriad contexts. However, there is a lack of research that examines the intersection of race and sexual orientation as it relates to experiences of discrimination. Given that individuals experience life through a unified lens of both privileged and marginalized identities,5 it is important to examine if and how racial identity impacts the discrimination experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals. In this study, the authors use intersectionality theory to answer three questions regarding housing and employment discrimination:- What is the prevalence of anti-LGBTQ discrimination for a sample in the Western Plains area?
- What differences exist between the rates of discrimination for LGBTQ People of Color (POC) and White LGBTQ people?
- What are the nuanced differences among POC?
Sample
Authors conducted secondary data analysis of anonymous needs
assessment data collected in 2010 through One Colorado, a statewide LGBTQ
advocacy organization. An online survey, available in both English and Spanish,
was advertised via social media, One Colorado’s e-mail list, and affiliated
organizations. The final sample consisted of 3,854 LGBTQ adults:
- Sexual Orientation: Gay, 53.4%; Lesbian, 30.0%; Bisexual, 8.6%; Queer, 7.6%; Heterosexual, 0.4%
- Gender Identity: Male, 56.1%; Female, 40.0%; Transgender, 3.9%
- Race: White, 82.1%; People of Color, 17.9% (Hispanic, 9.0%; Bi/Multiracial; 3.3%; African-American/Black, 3.1%; Asian, 1.7%; American Indian, 0.7%)
The majority of participants (71.2%) were between ages 25
and 54. Data on education and relationship status were also collected. These
demographics are available in the full-text article.
Results
Overall, White LGBTQ participants were significantly less
likely to experience discrimination than LGBTQ People of Color. Regarding
housing, 9.4% of White individuals and 19.8% of People of Color reported
discrimination. Regarding employment, 37.7% of White individuals and 42.8% of
People of Color reported discrimination. In examining the nuanced differences
among the racial groups included in this study, Hispanic and Bi/Multiracial
respondents in particular were significantly more likely to report both housing
and workplace discrimination than other racial groups.
Implications
The authors argue that, based on the results of this study,
it is important that there continue to be an intersectional approach taken to
discrimination work. Several tentative recommendations are made:
- There must be more research on why certain
marginalized racial groups report higher rates of anti-LGBTQ discrimination
than other marginalized racial groups.
- Federal policies should be implemented to protect individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
- Housing and labor authorities should provide training for employees tasked with handling anti-LGBTQ discrimination claims.
For More Information
For more on the sample demographics or specific results,
refer to the full article in the Journal
of Gay & Lesbian Social Services or contact the corresponding author,
Darren L. Whitfield at Darren.Whitfield@du.edu.
Click the links below to learn more about the authors’ work.
Citation
Whitfield, D. L.,
Walls, N. E., Langenderfer-Magruder,
L., & Clark, B. (2014). Queer Is the New Black? Not So Much: Racial
Disparities in Anti-LGBTQ Discrimination. Journal
of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 26(4), 426-440. doi:
10.1080/10538720.2014.955556
References
1 Kessler,
R., Mickelson, K., & Williams, D. (1999). The prevalence, distribution, and
mental health correlates of perceived discrimination in the United States. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 40,
208-230.
2
Williams, D. (1999). Race, socioeconomic status, and health: The added effects
of racism and discrimination. Annual of
the New Your Academy of Science, 896, 173-188.
3
Williams, D., Neighbors, H., & Jackson, J. (2003). Racial/ethnic
discrimination and health: Findings from community studies. American Journal of Public Health, 93, 200-208.
4
Herek, G. (2007). Confronting sexual stigma and prejudice: Theory and practice.
Journal of Social Issues, 63, 905-925.
5 Warner,
L., & Shields, S. (2013). The intersections of sexuality, gender, and race:
Identity research at the crossroads. Sex
Roles, 68, 803-810.