Getting Involved: Exploring Latino GBT Volunteerism and Activism in AIDS and LGBT Organizations

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to investigate the community involvement (e.g., volunteerism, activism) of Latino gay and bisexual men and transgender persons (GBT) in two areas: AIDS/LGBT and other general causes. Drawing from volunteering and identity theories, we explore the following: Who is likely to get involved? What factors affect variation in the levels of involvement? Where do Latino GBT participate and what do they do? Data come from a cross-sectional sample (N = 643) of Latino GBT in Chicago, Illinois, and San Francisco, California. We found high levels of involvement, but primarily focused on AIDS/LGBT. Involvement appears to be driven by income, early involvement, role modeling, and childhood stigmatization of gender nonconformity.

KEYWORDS:

• gay men
• Latino
• HIV/AIDS
• volunteering
• activism

Notes

1. But there are exceptions (e.g., Piven & Cloward, 1997).