Antonio (Jay) Pastrana

The Relative Importance of Race and Socioeconomic Status Among Hispanic and White Students

Using a nationally representative sample from the National Educational Longitudinal Study, this research examines the longitudinal effects of race and socioeconomic status on 12th-grade educational achievement and achievement 2 years after high school. For 12th-grade outcomes, the authors found no statistical difference in scores between Hispanic and White students. Two years after high school, the results were very surprising: (a) when controlling for socioeconomic status, Hispanic students actually outperformed their White counterparts; (b) socioeconomic status was 10 times more powerful than race in predicting outcomes; and (c) White students received a greater benefit for increases in socioeconomic status than did their Hispanic counterparts.

The Sociopolitical Involvement of Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific Islander Gay and Bisexual Men

This paper compares and contrasts the sociopolitical involvement of Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific Islander men within lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities of color. We hypothesize that being connected to community, and believing in the importance of sexual and racial/ethnic identity would positively impact mens sociopolitical involvement within LGBT communities of color. Findings indicate that, for all groups of men, feeling connected to the LGBT community was one of the most significant predictors of sociopolitical involvement within LGBT communities of color, but the importance of sexual and racial/ethnic identity was not as powerful a predictor for this sample of men. Similarities and differences between and among the groups are discussed with regard to understanding how community and identity is related to the sociopolitical involvement of Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific Islander men within LGBT communities.

Religion and Spirituality

While challenging stereotypical narratives, this chapter focuses on major themes as it relates to Asian and Pacific Islander LGBT communities: diversity in religious experiences and homophobia.

The SJS Project: Phases of Research

This concluding chapter provides the methodology employed for the completion of the Social Justice Sexuality (SJS) Project. Each of the five phases is delineated, providing more detail about the process. Particular attention is given to the quantitative and qualitative portions.