Highlighting Heritage: Linking Community Connectedness, Perceived Family Support, and Well-Being for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Latinx Adults in the United States

Abstract

Though Latinx populations in the United States continue to grow, the current gap in the literature concerning these communities perpetuates inequities that lead to prejudice, discrimination, and harmful legislation, resulting in continuous and cyclical marginalization of historically excluded community members. Though there is extant research on cultural values within Latinx communities, and on lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults, the concerning lack of overlap (research on LGB Latinx adults) manifests as harm due to a poor understanding of the intersectionality of sexual minority identity and Latinx identity. There is insufficient research concerning the manifestation of this minoritization and next to none that intentionally integrates culture into the equation of inequity. As such, the present study offers a strengths-based understanding of Latinx culture. The study is concerned with the experiences of LGB Latinx adults in the United States and the relationship between perceived family support, LGB community connectedness, and well-being. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze secondary data from the Social Justice Sexuality Project to answer research questions concerning the strength of the relationships between family support, LGB community connectedness, and well-being, and the extent to which LGB community connectedness mediates the relationship between family support and well-being. 734 participants who identified as both Latinx and sexual minorities were included in the study sample. Results suggested that family support, community connection, and outness all had significant and positive relationships with wellbeing. Community connectedness was not found to moderate the relationship between family support and well-being. The results of this study highlight the pervasive need for cultural safety in treatment of LGB Latinxs, and the importance of communal and cultural belonging.