Familismo and contributing cultural factors in the relocation and living mobility among LGBTQI Latinos

• In Event: Poster Session: Diverse Topics in Psychology and Anthropology

Abstract

Latinos now represent the largest minority group in the United States (Census, 2010). There is also an increase of LBGTQI individuals in the U.S. Some of these LGBTQI individuals identify as Latino/a and report coming from strong family and community ties (Moore, 2015). An interconnection exists between cultural ties and sexual orientation in the identity of the LGBTQI Latino/a. When looking at the Latino LGBTQI individual in respect to their living location, it is important to take into account cultural factors such as familismo. We see familismo as a culturally attributable family tie that affects LGBTQI Latino/as, particularly whose parents are first generation and may need more financial and day-to-day support (Calzada, Tamis-Lemonda, Yoshikawa, 2012). Perhaps this cultural phenomena is attributable to the fact that many Latino/a LGBTQI adults tend to remain in their Latino neighborhoods rather than relocate to other urban areas that consist of mainstreamed gay communities (Ocampo, 2012). For Latinos, regardless of sexual orientation, tend to continue the practice of familismo, especially when relocation means moving to an outside community where it lacks the culture and the family interconnectedness they honor. Another cultural factor is the masculinity that plays an important role in male Latino identity in both straight and LGBTQI individuals. In some instances, gay Latino men identify as being more masculine than their white gay counterparts (Ocampo, 2012). The identity of gay men is not similar across racial divides. For these reasons, we see the motives behind LGBTQI individuals’ choice to prefer their Latino communities. Given the LGBTQI Latinos’ preference to remain in their communities, it raises the question of how these individuals identify as a minority within their sexual orientation rather than their racial background. As Latino communities are tied by an overall sense of familismo, it is important for the community to extend this support system to the LGBTQI adults who choose to remain there and therefore contribute to the social and economic well-being of the community. This presentation will focus on familismo among the LGBTQI Latinos and other cultural factors that play a role in selecting their community.

Authors

• Vanessa Diaz, Mount Saint Mary's University , Los Angeles

• Eloiza M. Alcaraz, Mount Saint Mary's University, Los Angeles