This presentation looks at the overall Black subsample of our SJS Dataset

1. Closets Are For Clothes:
Being LGBT in Black America
March 29, 2012
Juan Battle - Antonio (Jay) Pastrana, Jr. - Jessie Daniels

2. In a 1986 speech titled "The New Niggers Are Gays," Bayard Rustin
stated that …
Today, Blacks are no longer the litmus paper or the barometer of
social change. Blacks are in every segment of society and there
are laws that help to protect them from racial discrimination. The
new "niggers" are gays. . . . It is in this sense that gay people are
the new barometer for social change. . . . The question of social
change should be framed with the most vulnerable group in
mind: gay people.

3. • Let’s avoid false dichotomies (Black people vs. gay people)
• Who might be the “most vulnerable” today … beyond “gay
people”?
• The Social Justice Sexuality (SJS) Project

4. < our purpose >

5. < document & celebrate >

6. < not pathologize >

7. < a jailhouse promise>

8. < sociopolitical mosaic >

9. <Other Studies>

10. <Diaz, et al; & Battle, et al>

11. <One Group>

12. <One Gender>

13. <Couples>

14. <Ethnographic>

15. <Easier to Measure>

16. <Sample(s) Looked the Same>

17. How is the SJS Study Unique/Different?

18. < Diversity in Groups Sampled>

19. < 5 Groups >

20. < Black People>

21. < Latinas/os>

22. < Asians & Pacific Islanders >

23. < Youth >

24. < Older Adults >

25. < Diversity in Topics Investigated>

26. < 5 Topic Areas >

27. < Sociopolitical Involvement>

28. < Family Formations & Dynamics>

29. < Spiritual & Religious Experiences>

30. < Racial & Sexual Identity>

31. < Mental & Physical Health >

32. Research Methods

33. Raise $$$ throughout
the entire process!!!

34. Purposive & Quota Sampling
Strategy – Fill Certain Cells

35. Piloted Multiple Times

36. Compromise on Questions

37. Translate & Back Translate

38. Ultimately, 105 Questions

39. •Phoenix Pride
•Long Beach Pride
•DC Black Pride
•Portland Latino Pride
•Orlando Black Pride/Gay Days
•Austin Pride
•New York Queens Pride
•Boston SPYCE & Boston Pride
•Central Alabama Pride (Birmingham)
•Milwaukee Wisconsin Pride
•Honolulu Pride
•Denver Pride
•New York Pride
Venue-based Sampling

40. •Phoenix Pride
•Long Beach Pride
•DC Black Pride
•Portland Latino Pride
•Orlando Black Pride/Gay Days
•Austin Pride
•New York Queens Pride
•Boston SPYCE & Boston Pride
•Central Alabama Pride (Birmingham)
•Milwaukee Wisconsin Pride
•Honolulu Pride
•Denver Pride
•New York Pride
Respondent-Driven

41. •Columbia South Carolina Black Pride
•New York Harlem Pride
•Miami Beach Bruthaz Bash
•Charlotte North Carolina Black Pride
•Michigan's Womyn's Festival
•Market Days
•GMHC House of Latex Ball
•Pueblo, CO Gay Pride
•Twin Cities Black Pride & South Central MN Pride
•World Gay Rodeo Finals, Laughlin, NV
Snowball Sampling

42. •Columbia South Carolina Black Pride
•New York Harlem Pride
•Miami Beach Bruthaz Bash
•Charlotte North Carolina Black Pride
•Michigan's Womyn's Festival
•Market Days
•GMHC House of Latex Ball
•Pueblo, CO Gay Pride
•Twin Cities Black Pride & South Central MN Pride
•World Gay Rodeo Finals, Laughlin, NV
Compromise on
Locations

43. Internet

44. all 50 states
Survey Reach

45. and Puerto Rico
Survey Reach

46. Our Partner Organizations

47. Did I mention:
Raise $$$ throughout the
entire process!!!

48. < 175+ people >

49. < Total Sample Size = 5,500 >

50. Delete cases because of …

51. < respondent fatigue>

52. < data integrity>

53. < N = 4,953 >

57. Black Sample: N = 2,166

60. Demographics
Multiple health

61. Demographics
Age
18-81, mean = 36

62. Demographics
Age Average Education
18-81, mean = 36 Associates Degree

63. Demographics
Age Average Education Average Income
18-81, mean = 36 Associates Degree Between $20,000-$30,000

64. Demographics
Age Average Education Average Income
18-81, mean = 36 Some college, no degree Between $20,000-$30,000
Gender
4.1%
Male
Female
43.2%
52.7%
Gender
Variant

65. <Sociopolitical Involvement>

66. Sociopolitical Involvement & LGBT Communities
What are the
three (3) most
important issues
facing you?

67. Sociopolitical Involvement & LGBT Communities
Top Three Issues Facing "Me"
Nondiscrimination 21.9%
Economic Issues
What are the
three (3) most
important issues
facing you?
Marriage/
9.9%
Domestic Partnership
Equality/Acceptance
9.9%
(does not include family)

68. Sociopolitical Involvement & LGBT Communities
In your opinion, what
are the three (3) most
important issues facing
LGBT communities of
color in the U.S.?

69. Sociopolitical Involvement & LGBT Communities
Top Three Issues
"LGBT Communities of Color“
Face in the U.S.
HIV/AIDS/Sexual
15.7%
Health Edu
In your opinion, what
are the three (3) most
important issues facing
LGBT communities of Discrimination 14.5%
color in the U.S.?
Equality/Acceptance
(does not include 12.9%
family)

70. Sociopolitical Involvement & LGBT Communities
How much of an impact
would the legalization
of same-sex marriage
have on your life?

71. Sociopolitical Involvement & LGBT Communities
Impact of same-sex marriage on my life (ND)
How much of an impact
A large impact 6
would legalization
of same-sex marriage
5 have on your life?
4.57 4.50
4
3
2
No impact at all 1
Not Black Black

72. Sociopolitical Involvement & LGBT Communities
Is homophobia a
problem in your
racial/ethnic community,
neighborhood and/or in
all communities of color?
(composite)

73. Sociopolitical Involvement & LGBT Communities
Homophobia is a problem (ND)
Strongly agree 6
Is homophobia a
problem in your 5
racial/ethnic
community, 4 4.17 4.28
neighborhood
and/or in all 3
communities of
color?
2
Strongly disagree 1
Not Black Black

74. Sociopolitical Involvement & LGBT Communities
Connected to LGBT Community
(composite)
I feel connected to my local LGBT community.
I feel that the problems faced by the LGBT
community are also my
problems.
I feel a bond with other
LGBT people.

75. Sociopolitical Involvement & LGBT Communities
Connected to LGBT Community ***
(composite)
Strongly agree 6
5
4
4.12
4.02
3
2
Strongly disagree 1
Not Black Black

76. <Spirituality & Religion>

77. Spirituality and Religion
Spirituality
(composite)
I pray daily.
I look to my faith as providing
meaning and purpose to my life.
I consider myself active in my
faith or religious tradition.
I enjoy being around others who
share my faith.
My faith impacts many of my
decisions.

78. Spirituality and Religion
Spirituality***
(composite)
Strongly Agree 4
3
2.94
2.35
2
Strongly disagree 1
Not Black Black

79. Spirituality and Religion
How often do you
attend religious
services?

80. Spirituality and Religion
Attendance frequency to religious services***
Every week 8
7
1-2 a month 6
How often do you attend religious
Once a month 5 services?
4.45
Several times a year 4
1-2 a year 3
3.12
2
Never 1
Not Black Black

81. Spirituality and Religion
Thinking about your sexual identity, how much has your religious
tradition or spiritual practice been a negative or positive
influence for your coming to terms with your LGBT identity?

82. Spirituality and Religion
Thinking about your sexual identity, how much has your religious tradition or spiritual practice
been a negative influence for your coming to terms with your LGBT identity?
Religious Tradition Important for
Sexual Identity (ND)
Positive Influence 7
6
5
4
3.85
3 3.54
2
Negative Influence1
Not Black Black

83. Spirituality and Religion
What religion
do you
currently
practice?

84. Spirituality and Religion
Religion currently practicing ***
Black Not Black
Other 29.1%
42.3%
Protestant 39.0%
25.5%
Catholic 8.3%
18.3%
Jew 16.9%
7.9%
Muslim/ 5.3%
Islam 5.5%
None 1.4%
0.6%

85. <Sexual, Racial/Ethnic Identity>

86. Sexual, Racial and Ethnic Identity
Do you feel that your
sexual orientation
is an important part
of your identity?

87. Sexual, Racial and Ethnic Identity
Sexual Orienation is Important***
Extremely important 6
5
Do you feel that your
4.79
sexual orientation is 4.51
an important part of 4
your identity?
3
2
Not important at all 1
Not Black Black

88. Sexual, Racial and Ethnic Identity
How many people within your community
are you “out” to?
Family
Friends
Religious community
Co-workers
People in the neighborhood
People online

89. Sexual, Racial and Ethnic Identity
Outness ***
(Composite)
All 5
Most 4
3.73 3.55
About half 3
Some 2
None 1
Not Black Black

90. Sexual, Racial and Ethnic Identity
Who are you "out" to?
100%
90% 96.8
90.3 88.4
80%
83.4
70% 76.4
72.5
60%
50%

91. Sexual, Racial and Ethnic Identity
As a LGBT
person, how
much do you
now feel
supported
by your
family?

92. Sexual, Racial and Ethnic Identity
Family Support (ND)
Completely supported 6
As a LGBT 5
person, how
much do you 4 4.37 4.34
now feel
supported by 3
your family?
2
Not supported at all 1
Not Black Black

93. Sexual, Racial and Ethnic Identity
How old were you when you
first “came out” to yourself:
that is, how old were you
when you first knew you
were “not straight”?

94. Sexual, Racial and Ethnic Identity
Age: First Came Out to Myself (ND)
How old were you when you first
20 “came out” to yourself: that
is, how old were you when you
first knew you were “not
straight”?
16.17 16.12
15
10
Not Black Black

95. Sexual, Racial and Ethnic Identity
Do you feel
that your
racial or
ethnic
status is
an
important
part of your
identity?

96. Sexual, Racial and Ethnic Identity
Racial Identity is Important***
Extremely important 6
Do you feel
5
that your
racial or 4.5
4
ethnic
status is an 3.74
important 3
part of your
identity? 2
Not important at all 1
Not Black Black

97. <Health & Health Care>

98. Health & Health Care
In general
would you say
that your
health is?

99. Health & Health Care
General Health*
Excellent 5 In general would you
say that your health
is?
Very good 4
3.62 3.68
Good 3
Fair 2
Poor 1
Not Black Black

100. Health & Health Care
Over the past week, how often have you felt:
That you were just as good as other people
Hopeful about the future
Happy
That you enjoyed life

101. Health & Health Care
Happy (ND)
(composite)
Most of the time 4
A lot of the time 3 3.24
3.26
Sometimes 2
Never
1
Not Black Black

102. Health & Health Care
Do you now smoke?

103. Health & Health Care
Smoke now ***
Not Black Black
31.6% 26.7%
Yes Yes
No No
68.4% 73.3%

104. Health & Health Care
Do you have
health
insurance?

105. Health & Health Care
Health Insurance**
Not Black Black
23% 20.1%
Yes
Yes
No
No
77%
79.9%

106. Health & Health Care
Do you have a
regular doctor
or health care
provider?

107. Health & Health Care
Health Care Provider***
Not Black Black
19.1%
24.6%
Yes Yes
No No
75.4%
80.9%

108. Next Steps?

109. Examine ethnic differences
within this racial group

110. Compare results to race-
specific non-LGBT sample

111. Dissemination:
Four Strategies

112. Video Series

113. Social Media Outreach

114. Fact sheets & data
dissemination to partners

115. High-Impact Academic
& Policy Dissemination

116. Thank you!

119. Compromise on Locations