3-090 - Intersecting Identities: Promotive Factors for Healthy Development Among LGBTQ Youth of Color

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Significant scholarship has improved our knowledge about the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) children and youth (see Russell & Fish, 2016 for review). Here, we extend this knowledge and consider LGBTQ youth who are also racially/ethnically diverse. In Paper 1, profiles of Latinx and sexual minority youth (n = 236) were created to examine sexual orientation and race/ethnicity identity centrality and its association with mental health. High identity centrality and low discrimination were associated with higher self-esteem and GPA and lower rates of depression. This illustrates the protective function of identity centrality against minority stress. Paper 2 explores the implications of LGB-inclusive curricula and policy on ethnically diverse middle school students’ (n = 1,962) behaviors and attitudes towards their LGB peers. Perceived presence of anti-LGBTQ bullying policy was most strongly related to intervention in homophobic bullying, and perceived presence of inclusive curricula was positively associated with students’ perception of similarity to their LGB peers. Paper 3 uses state-wide data from teachers (n = 43,362) and a diverse sample of LGB students (n = 24,092) to determine the association between supportive versus punitive practices and experiences of suspension and truancy among LGB youth of color. Youth were less likely to be suspended in schools with supportive practices, and less likely to be truant in schools with punitive policies.

Together these papers consider the intersection of sexual orientation, gender identity, and race/ethnicity to determine person-centered and school-based factors that promote positive development among diverse LGBTQ youth.

Sub Unit

• Sex, Gender

Chairs

• Shannon Snapp, California State University Monterey Bay

• Jack Day, University of Texas at Austin

Individual Presentations

• Profiles of Minority Stressors and Identity Centrality Among Sexual Minority Latinx Youth - Presenting Author: Maura Shramko, The University of Arizona; Russell B. Toomey, University of Arizona; Karla Anhalt, Kent State University

• Perceived presence of LGB-inclusive policy and curricula shapes urban middle school students’ intergroup attitudes about LGB peers - Presenting Author: Negin Ghavami, UCLA

• Avoiding the Pipeline: The Role of Supportive Versus Punitive Practices for LGB Youth of Color - Presenting Author: Shannon Snapp, California State University Monterey Bay; Jack Day, University of Texas at Austin; Stephen Russell, University of Texas