2012 NASPA Annual Conference s Phoenix, Arizona s March 10–14, 2012

Layered Identities: Queer Students of Color

Tuesday, March 1312:45 PM - 1:45 PM

226C - Convention Center

Presenter: Khristian Kemp-DeLisser

Layered Identities

1) Present the results of the qualitative study on perceptions of campus climate of queer students of color

2) Demonstrate how qualitative research can be used to understand complex issues such as climate and identity salience

3) Promote discussion among workshop attendees about the ways existing student services can meet the needs of queer students of color

Session Goals

Layered Identities Research Problem & Questions

Literature reviewed:LGBT Identity Development LGBT Students of Color in K-12LGBT Campus ClimateLGBT Students of Color in Higher Ed

Research demonstrated a dominance of white lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer youth or students in its sampling and reporting that produced a gap in the literature. Most studies contained a small enough sample of students of color to prompt areas for further study but that further study wasn’t taking place.

Layered Identities Researcher

Full ParticipantUniversity EmployeeQueer-identified Gay man African American

Layered Identities Sample & Setting

Interviewees:Garcon: 25-year old Gay Central American Latino graduate manLinde: 22-year old Pansexual Asian-American senior womanNadine: 19-year old Pansexual Caribbean Multi-Racial sophomore womanReggie: 21-year old Gay Ghanaian Black junior manSinath: 22-year old Lesbian African-American senior womanSimon: 26-year old Gay Asian-American graduate manTheresa: 23-year old Queer Filipino graduate woman

Not all the students shared how long they had been out but of the ones who did, the length of time ranged from six months to eight years. Recruited from a PWI mid-sized New England research university.

Layered Identities Findings

Thematic analysis produced seven major themes:

Campus SafetyQueer identity

Visibility & Identity SalienceSelf-Advocacy

Involvement as SafetyFamily Pressures

Off Campus Climate

Layered Identities Findings

Campus Safety ●Queer Identity ●Visibility & Identity Salience ●Self-Advocacy ●Involvement as Safety ●Family Pressures ●Off Campus Climate

Campus Safety

• Perceptions of physical safety• Perceptions of classroom climate • Climate for queer students of color

Layered Identities Findings

Campus Safety ●Queer identity ●Visibility & Identity Salience ●Self-Advocacy ●Involvement as Safety ●Family Pressures ●Off Campus Climate

Layered Identities Findings

Campus Safety ●Queer identity ●Visibility & Identity Salience ●Self-Advocacy ●Involvement as Safety ●Family Pressures ●Off Campus Climate

Layered Identities Findings

Campus Safety ●Queer identity ●Visibility & Identity Salience ●Self-Advocacy ●Involvement as Safety ●Family Pressures ●Off Campus Climate

Layered Identities Findings

Campus Safety ●Queer identity ●Visibility & Identity Salience ●Self-Advocacy ●Involvement as Safety ●Family Pressures ●Off Campus Climate

Layered Identities Findings

Campus Safety ●Queer identity ●Visibility & Identity Salience ●Self-Advocacy ●Involvement as Safety ●Family Pressures ●Off Campus Climate

Layered Identities Findings

Campus Safety ●Queer identity ●Visibility & Identity Salience ●Self-Advocacy ●Involvement as Safety ●Family Pressures ●Off Campus Climate

Layered Identities Findings

Campus Safety ●Queer identity ●Visibility & Identity Salience ●Self-Advocacy ●Involvement as Safety ●Family Pressures ●Off Campus Climate

Layered Identities Research Problem & Questions dup

The stories of QPOC college students can offer a unique lens through which to view the development of multiple dimensions of LGBT identity.

Primary research question:• How do the LGBQ students of color perceive their identities and the

support on campus for those identities

Secondary questions :• How does race and sexual orientation impact the way LGBQ students make

sense of their queer identity?• How do LGBQ students describe the impact of college on their identity

development?• How do LGBQ students of color reconcile their queer identities? • In what ways do other dimensions of identity intersect with sexual

orientation and the college environment?

Layered Identities Research Problem & Questions dup

The stories of QPOC college students can offer a unique lens through which to view the development of multiple dimensions of LGBT identity.

Primary research question:• How do the LGBQ students of color perceive their identities and the

support on campus for those identities

Secondary questions :• How does race and sexual orientation impact the way LGBQ students make

sense of their queer identity?• How do LGBQ students describe the impact of college on their identity

development?• How do LGBQ students of color reconcile their queer identities? • In what ways do other dimensions of identity intersect with sexual

orientation and the college environment?

Layered Identities Research Problem & Questions dup

The stories of QPOC college students can offer a unique lens through which to view the development of multiple dimensions of LGBT identity.

Primary research question:• How do the LGBQ students of color perceive their identities and the

support on campus for those identities

Secondary questions :• How does race and sexual orientation impact the way LGBQ students make

sense of their queer identity?• How do LGBQ students describe the impact of college on their identity

development?• How do LGBQ students of color reconcile their queer identities? • In what ways do other dimensions of identity intersect with sexual

orientation and the college environment?

Layered Identities Research Problem & Questions dup

The stories of QPOC college students can offer a unique lens through which to view the development of multiple dimensions of LGBT identity.

Primary research question:• How do the LGBQ students of color perceive their identities and the

support on campus for those identities

Secondary questions :• How does race and sexual orientation impact the way LGBQ students make

sense of their queer identity?• How do LGBQ students describe the impact of college on their identity

development?• How do LGBQ students of color reconcile their queer identities? • In what ways do other dimensions of identity intersect with sexual

orientation and the college environment?

Layered Identities Research Problem & Questions dup

The stories of QPOC college students can offer a unique lens through which to view the development of multiple dimensions of LGBT identity.

Primary research question:• How do the LGBQ students of color perceive their identities and the

support on campus for those identities

Secondary questions :• How does race and sexual orientation impact the way LGBQ students make

sense of their queer identity?• How do LGBQ students describe the impact of college on their identity

development?• How do LGBQ students of color reconcile their queer identities? • In what ways do other dimensions of identity intersect with sexual

orientation and the college environment?

Layered Identities Research Problem & Questions dup

The stories of QPOC college students can offer a unique lens through which to view the development of multiple dimensions of LGBT identity.

Primary research question:• How do the LGBQ students of color perceive their identities and the

support on campus for those identities

Secondary questions :• How does race and sexual orientation impact the way LGBQ students make

sense of their queer identity?• How do LGBQ students describe the impact of college on their identity

development?• How do LGBQ students of color reconcile their queer identities? • In what ways do other dimensions of identity intersect with sexual

orientation and the college environment?

Layered Identities Research Problem & Questions dup

The stories of QPOC college students can offer a unique lens through which to view the development of multiple dimensions of LGBT identity.

Primary research question:• How do the LGBQ students of color perceive their identities and the

support on campus for those identities

Secondary questions :• How does race and sexual orientation impact the way LGBQ students make

sense of their queer identity?• How do LGBQ students describe the impact of college on their identity

development?• How do LGBQ students of color reconcile their queer identities? • In what ways do other dimensions of identity intersect with sexual

orientation and the college environment?

Layered Identities Research Problem & Questions dup

The stories of QPOC college students can offer a unique lens through which to view the development of multiple dimensions of LGBT identity.

Primary research question:• How do the LGBQ students of color perceive their identities and the

support on campus for those identities

Secondary questions :• How does race and sexual orientation impact the way LGBQ students make

sense of their queer identity?• How do LGBQ students describe the impact of college on their identity

development?• How do LGBQ students of color reconcile their queer identities? • In what ways do other dimensions of identity intersect with sexual

orientation and the college environment?

Layered Identities Research Problem & Questions dup

The stories of QPOC college students can offer a unique lens through which to view the development of multiple dimensions of LGBT identity.

Primary research question:• How do the LGBQ students of color perceive their identities and the

support on campus for those identities

Secondary questions :• How does race and sexual orientation impact the way LGBQ students make

sense of their queer identity?• How do LGBQ students describe the impact of college on their identity

development?• How do LGBQ students of color reconcile their queer identities? • In what ways do other dimensions of identity intersect with sexual

orientation and the college environment?

Layered Identities Research Problem & Questions dup

The stories of QPOC college students can offer a unique lens through which to view the development of multiple dimensions of LGBT identity.

Primary research question:• How do the LGBQ students of color perceive their identities and the

support on campus for those identities

Secondary questions :• How does race and sexual orientation impact the way LGBQ students make

sense of their queer identity?• How do LGBQ students describe the impact of college on their identity

development?• How do LGBQ students of color reconcile their queer identities? • In what ways do other dimensions of identity intersect with sexual

orientation and the college environment?

Layered Identities Research Problem & Questions dup

The stories of QPOC college students can offer a unique lens through which to view the development of multiple dimensions of LGBT identity.

Primary research question:• How do the LGBQ students of color perceive their identities and the

support on campus for those identities

Secondary questions :• How does race and sexual orientation impact the way LGBQ students make

sense of their queer identity?• How do LGBQ students describe the impact of college on their identity

development?• How do LGBQ students of color reconcile their queer identities? • In what ways do other dimensions of identity intersect with sexual

orientation and the college environment?

Layered Identities Research Problem & Questions dup

The stories of QPOC college students can offer a unique lens through which to view the development of multiple dimensions of LGBT identity.

Primary research question:• How do the LGBQ students of color perceive their identities and the

support on campus for those identities

Secondary questions :• How does race and sexual orientation impact the way LGBQ students make

sense of their queer identity?• How do LGBQ students describe the impact of college on their identity

development?• How do LGBQ students of color reconcile their queer identities? • In what ways do other dimensions of identity intersect with sexual

orientation and the college environment?

Layered Identities Research Problem & Questions dup

The stories of QPOC college students can offer a unique lens through which to view the development of multiple dimensions of LGBT identity.

Primary research question:• How do the LGBQ students of color perceive their identities and the

support on campus for those identities

Secondary questions :• How does race and sexual orientation impact the way LGBQ students make

sense of their queer identity?• How do LGBQ students describe the impact of college on their identity

development?• How do LGBQ students of color reconcile their queer identities? • In what ways do other dimensions of identity intersect with sexual

orientation and the college environment?

Layered Identities Research Problem & Questions dup

The stories of QPOC college students can offer a unique lens through which to view the development of multiple dimensions of LGBT identity.

Primary research question:• How do the LGBQ students of color perceive their identities and the

support on campus for those identities

Secondary questions :• How does race and sexual orientation impact the way LGBQ students make

sense of their queer identity?• How do LGBQ students describe the impact of college on their identity

development?• How do LGBQ students of color reconcile their queer identities? • In what ways do other dimensions of identity intersect with sexual

orientation and the college environment?

Layered Identities Session Goals

• Lessons learned: I was forcing the students to put themselves into a box

• The literature review and questions asked focused on students whose primary identity was LGBT but most of the students felt their racial identity was most frequently salient

Thanks for attending.See you in Orlando!Khristian Kemp-DeLisser

Ed.D. Candidate, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies

University of Vermontkkempdel@uvm.edu