Eastern Sociological Society Regional Conference February 24, 2012

Abigail Kolker, Vernon CaldwellCUNY-Graduate Center

Findings from a Nationwide Survey of

LGBT Black Men & Women

Our Purpose

To Document and Celebrate

Not Pathologize

Sociopolitcal Mosaic

Other Studies

SJS Study

Total Sample Size = 5,500

N=4,963

5 Groups

5 Topics

Research Methods

Venues

• 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

Venues

• 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

Our Partner Organizations

The Data

Blacks

N=2,086

Blacks by Gender(SJS: N=2,086)

52%42%

7%

MaleFemaleNon-Cisgender

Demographics

Gender Variant

Blacks by Age(SJS: N=2,086)

20%

59%

17%

18-2425-4950+ above

Which label best describes your sexual identity? (SJS: N=2,086)

36%

23%

11%

2%

4%

3%

9%

8%0.5% 4%

GayLesbianBisexualTwo SpiritQueerIn the LifeSame Gender LovingStraight/HeterosexualMacha/oOther

Outness

Who are you "out" to? (SJS: N=2,086)

77%64% 62% 55% 49% 45%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Frie

nds

Onlin

e

Fam

ily

Co-W

orke

rs

Relig

ious

Com

mun

ity

Neigh

borh

ood

Outness as a Predictor of Happiness (Mental Health Self-Perception)

Black sample: 0.046***(+) Blacks who are out to family, friends and members of their

communities are more likely to have positive mental health perception than their “closeted” counterparts.

Spirituality

Blacks Who Say Religion is Important

79% 78%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Religion is Very Important Blacks U.S.

Religion Gives Meaning/Purpose Blacks SJS

(SJS: N=2,086)

51%

29%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Attend at Least Weekly - Blacks U.S. Attend Every Week or Nearly EveryWeek - Blacks SJ S

Blacks Who Attend Religious Services(SJS: N=2,086)

(SJS: N=2,086)

Spirituality as a Predictor of Happiness (Mental Health Self-Perception)

Black sample: 0.125***(+) Blacks who consider themselves spiritual and are active in

religious institutions are more likely to have positive mental health perception than their non-religious counterparts.

Community Engagement

Never

twice/yr.

6 times/yr.

once/wk.

once/mo.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Engagement in LGBT community of color over past 12 months

% black sample(SJS: N=2,086)

Community Engagement as a Predictor of Happiness (Mental Health Self-Perception)

Black sample: 0.059***(+) Blacks that are actively engaged in their communities are

more likely to have positive mental health perception than those not involved in the community.

Conclusion

Thank you!