The Tipping Point: Examining the Effects of Heterosexist and Racist Stigma on Political Participation

Abstract Intersectionality suggests that stigmatization experienced across multiple identities has a demobilizing effect, making people less likely to challenge systemic inequalities through political engagement. Using data collected from a unique survey of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) respondents, this study analyzes how experience with injustice across racial and sexual identities affects political participation. I find (1) heterosexist stigma is positively associated with political participation; (2) racist stigma is positively associated with participation in the form of political persuasion among both whites and racial minorities; and (3) there is a tipping point after which the compounded effects of stigma across multiple identities negatively affect political participation, but primarily among the most politically active LGBT people.