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Being out to others: The relative importance of family support, identity and religion for LGBT latina/os

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Abstract

Contemporary accounts emphasize that family often plays a deleterious role in the lives of Latina/os who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). Though there is a vast literature on the importance of family for Latina/os, little research examines how this may affect this LGBT population. Quantitative data analysis from a nationwide sample of LGBT Latina/os (N=1159) assesses the importance of family support in understanding how many people a person chooses to be “out” to, or “outness.” It also examines how a selection of demographic characteristics, attitudinal measures of identity and religion are related to being an out LGBT Latina/o today. Findings reveal that, when controlling for a variety of characteristics and measures, family support is the strongest, positive predictor of outness for LGBT Latina/os. Two other predictors include the belief that one’s sexual orientation is an important part of one’s identity and having a connection to the LGBT community. Interestingly, when compared to their adult counterparts, youth were not likely to be out to as many people in their lives; and being born outside of the United States was found to be a consistent, negative predictor of being out to others. The significance of these findings is discussed regarding future research and social movement organizing with LGBT Latina/o populations.

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  1. John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY,

    Antonio (Jay) Pastrana , Jr.

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Pastrana, A. Being out to others: The relative importance of family support, identity and religion for LGBT latina/os. Lat Stud 13, 88–112 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1057/lst.2014.69

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/lst.2014.69

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