UCLA

PurposeThe overall purpose of this dissertation is to understand how social networks, through kinship-making and coalition building, shape the distress, anxiety, and well-being of advocates engaged in LGBTQ+ issues in Vietnamese American communities in Orange County, CA through queer and trans of color critique lenses. The specific aims are to (1) characterize advocates’ sociodemographic profiles; (2) elucidate diverse conceptualizations and practices of community organizing; and (3) evaluate the impacts of kinship network characteristics on the psychological and social well-being of these advocates. Methods The dissertation used a two-stage mixed paradigm (critical, constructivist, and post-positivist) and mixed methods (ethnography and social network analysis) case study design. Viet Rainbow of Orange County (VROC), an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, was the primary community partner. The first stage used an exploratory sequential design where four months of ethnographic field work and semi-structured interviews established the sampling frame for the second stage. The second stage used a convergent design where qualitative data (eight months of ethnographic field work and semi-structured interviews) and quantitative data (egocentric social network collection and self-administered health questionnaires) were collected simultaneously. Thematic and narrative analysis of ethnographic field work and semi-structured interviews fully addressed Aims 1 and 2. Statistical network analysis, including network visualization and descriptive statistical analyses, fully addressed Aim 3. I integrated qualitative and quantitative findings in the discussion. Results Aim 1: 51 advocates participated in semi-structured interviews and participant observation (with observations lasting between four to twelve months). Advocates were majority Vietnamese (82%) and majority cisgender (62%), with 38% identifying as trans or non-binary and 39% identifying as queer. Five themes emerged: (1) the separation between queerness and Vietnameseness; (2) the impact of family of origin on gender identity formation especially for those socialized as Vietnamese daughters but who now identify as trans, non-binary, or gender non-conforming; (3) the political orientations of queerness and non-binaryness; (4) the significance of allyship, and (5) the intersection of religion with beliefs surrounding gender and sexuality. Aim 2: Drawn from the same 51 semi-structured interviews as Aim 1 and 12 months (January 2023 - 2024) of intensive participant observation, four themes surfaced: (1) organizing as a constellation, (2) non-profitization of radical politics, (3) politics of non-disposability, and (4) gestures to queer and trans Vietnamese political approaches. Aim 3: 38 participants completed cross-sectional egocentric network surveys (N = 628 alters, 666 total nodes). Larger networks and higher number of closer relationships tended to correlate with better mental health, while certain types of homophily, such as religion and gender, may provide protective health effects. Although specific associations between network structural characteristics and mental health were not statistically significant, they generally followed expected patterns, with social support density associated with better mental health and influence/conflict density linked to poorer mental health outcomes. Discussion The findings illuminate the complexities inherent in navigating intersecting identities and systemic oppressions within LGBTQ+ Vietnamese American communities. Intergenerational trauma and community support emerge as pivotal themes, highlighting the resilience fostered through supportive relationships despite the pervasive presence of trauma. Religion emerges as both a source of solace and struggle, underscoring the nuanced relationship between religious communities and mental well-being. Moreover, the exploration of gender identity and advocacy reveals discordant experiences, emphasizing the need for intersectional approaches in understanding and addressing the diverse needs within LGBTQ+ communities. This dissertation underscores the imperative of supporting grassroots social movements in promoting the well-being of LGBTQ+ Vietnamese Americans and in resisting and undoing community-level levers of oppression.