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The Personal Experience of Community Among Urban Gay Men, Lesbians, and Bisexuals: Melting Pot or Mosaic?

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  • Adam Easterbrook
  • Richard M. Carpiano
  • Brian C. Kelly
  • Jeffrey T. Parsons

Abstract

type="main"> “Gay community” is often conceptualized as a “melting pot” in which gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) persons are united and integrated into one sexual minority community. Evidence, however, indicates that GLB community may also be conceptualized as a mosaic of sexual minority communities with differing goals and ideologies. We test the validity of these conceptions of community with respect to two facets of the personal experiences of GLB individuals: socializing with GLB persons and GLB community cohesion perceptions. Analyses of the 2005 Sex and Love survey of New York City area GLB persons. GLB persons tended to socialize most with their own sexual identity group. Compared to gay men, only bisexual women reported higher perceptions of GLB community cohesion. Our findings indicate the presence of a mosaic sexual minority community. The extent of sexual-identity-group-specific socializing patterns suggests that personal perceptions of GLB cohesion may either be idealized rather than based on routine interactions or reflect assessments of within-group (not across-group) cohesion.

Suggested Citation

  • Adam Easterbrook & Richard M. Carpiano & Brian C. Kelly & Jeffrey T. Parsons, 2014. "The Personal Experience of Community Among Urban Gay Men, Lesbians, and Bisexuals: Melting Pot or Mosaic?," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 95(3), pages 682-700, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:95:y:2014:i:3:p:682-700
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dan Black & Gary Gates & Seth Sanders & Lowell Taylor, 2000. "Demographics of the gay and lesbian population in the United States: Evidence from available systematic data sources," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 37(2), pages 139-154, May.
    2. Michael Sibalis, 2004. "Urban Space and Homosexuality: The Example of the Marais, Paris' 'Gay Ghetto'," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 41(9), pages 1739-1758, August.
    3. Black, Dan & Gates, Gary & Sanders, Seth & Taylor, Lowell, 2002. "Why Do Gay Men Live in San Francisco?," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 54-76, January.
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