The Relative Impact of Identity on LGBT API Outness: A Quantitative Analysis

Author

Jessica Lee, Graduate Center, City University of New YorkFollow

Date of Degree

6-2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Program

Liberal Studies

Advisor

Juan Battle

Subject Categories

Asian American Studies | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies | Sociology

Keywords

Asian Pacific Islander, Coming Out, Community, Identity, LGBT

Abstract

In the United States, the intersecting relationship among race, sex, gender, and sexuality plays a significant role in one's identity development and socialization. Especially for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Asian Pacific Islander (API) individuals, such interplay presents a continuous task of processing and presenting different identities. Employing a national sample of over 500 LGBT API individuals and utilizing multivariate regression analysis, this thesis explores how LGBT API individuals' sexual and racial identities affect their decisions in coming out to family, friends, co-workers, and other community members. Findings indicate that the level of discomfort in racial/ethnic and/or LGBT community settings is an important predictor of LGBT API outness. However, the impact of the importance of identity alone was negligible.

Recommended Citation

Lee, Jessica, "The Relative Impact of Identity on LGBT API Outness: A Quantitative Analysis" (2014). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/245