Race, place, and sexuality: a contextual understanding of LGB identity salience

This study used feminist intersectionality and identity theories to examine the association between residential context (racial exposure and community climate) and identity salience among 375 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) survey respondents. I hypothesized that LGB identity salience would vary by perceived community support or rejection of LGB people such that high salience occurs in hostile and supportive communities, and low salience occurs in tolerant communities. Further, I hypothesized that LGB identity salience would vary by levels of exposure to racially similar others in one’s neighborhood. Both hypotheses were partially supported. Regression models did not reach significance, but descriptive results indicate that the relationship between community climate and LGB identity salience is different for Whites and people of color such that hostile community climate has a stronger impact on LGB identity salience for people of color compared to Whites. Additionally, descriptive analyses reveal that the relationship between racial exposure and LGB identity salience is different for Whites and people of color such that increased exposure to racially similar others is associated with lower LGB identity salience for people of color, but not for Whites. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed