Negotiating Multiple Identities: How African-American Gay and Bisexual Men Persist at a Predominantly White Institution

Abstract

This consensual qualitative research (CQR) study explores factors contributing to the persistence of African-American gay and bisexual men at a predominately White institution (PWI). Eight participants consistently noted that involvement with an African-American community was crucial to navigating the challenges of attending a PWI. Participants reported that their racial identity was more salient than their sexual orientation in creating social support, and they described feeling uncomfortable using lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) resources. Implications, including education about sexual orientation within African-American campus communities, LGBT outreach to communities of color, and continued institutional support for African-American campus organizations, are discussed.

Resilience in Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Individuals: A Critical Review of the Literature

“…An especially salient element in participants' stories was the reaction of other Black students to them based on heterosexist, religiocultural expectations of what it means to be a Black man, specifically with regard to gender presentation and sexuality (Patton, 2011). Participants in several studies found ways to survive in settings that were physically and psychologically hostile due to racialized heterosexism and homophobia (Goode-Cross & Good, 2008Goode-Cross & Tager, 2011;Gresham, 2009;McCready, 2004;Patton, 2011;Vaught, 2004;Washington & Wall, 2006). Many participants reported creating supportive "safe spaces" where they could be themselves (Goode-Cross & Good, 2008).…”

“…Many participants reported creating supportive "safe spaces" where they could be themselves (Goode-Cross & Good, 2008). Participants also reported using other coping strategies such as selective disclosure (Goode-Cross & Good, 2008Patton, 2011), compartmentalization of their multiple identities (Gresham, 2009), maintenance of superficial relationships with other Blacks (Washington & Wall), or avoiding gay male students or Black students (Goode- Cross & Good, 2009;Goode-Cross & Tager, 2011).…”

Gay Men’s Health and Identity: Social Change and the Life Course

“…Men of color of the AIDS-2 Generation are far better represented in empirical research compared to prior generations. The consistent theme of challenge with regard to integrating racial and sexual identities emerges from studies of men of color of this generation (e.g., Bowleg, 2013; Christian, 2005; Goode-Cross & Tager, 2011; Hunter, 2010), as does the theme of experiencing ethnic minority stress in the gay community but sexual minority stress in the ethnic minority community (e.g., Hidalgo, Cotten, Johnson, Kuhns, & Garafalo, 2013). The phenomenon of ethnic minority men (typically African American and Latino) rejecting gay identity labels and identification with the gay community but engaging in same-sex practices is particularly well documented for men of this generation (e.g., Dodge, Jeffries, & Sandfort, 2008; Martinez & Hosek, 2005).…”

Introduction to the Special Issue: Queers of Color and Anti‐Oppressive Knowledge Production

“…A number of examples (Blackburn, ; Goode‐Cross & Tager, ; Harper & Gasman, ; Harris, ; McCready, ; Patton, ; Strayhorn, Blakewood, & DeVita, ; Vaught, ) speak to the focus on Black queer males. While more scholarship is needed on Black queer males, the extant literature offers more on their experiences than Black queer females (Blackburn, ; Patton & Simmons, ; Quinn, ), queer Latinos (Cruz, ; Misa, ), queer Asians (Ngo, ; Varney, ), and trans students of color (Brockenbrough & Boatwright, Forthcoming).…”