LGBT AA as a Multiple Minority Group
LGBT Asian Americans face more discrimination because they are members of two minority groups, Asian American and homosexual. AA women suffer even more because they are not the dominant gender group and therefore are in triple jeopardy. As a result, LGBT AA are excluded from privileges based on their race and sexuality. The two opposing theories on viewing those with multiple subordinate identities are additive vs. an interactive models. The additive model states that each minority identity combines with one another, so each offense piles on top of one another as well. Thus, each offense is taken to be individual of any other type of discrimination. The interactive theory states that all minority identities combine into one cohesive identity and every discrimination affects the whole identity, rather than a specific part (Purdie-Vaughns & Eibach). However, AA gay males reported more discrimination received due to sexuality than race while other minorities reported more discrimination due to race rather than sexuality (Greene 1994). These results differentiating between an ethnic and sexual identity suggests that an additive model may be more appropriate. Despite whichever of these models is more true, what is clear is that the more minority statuses there are, the more opportunities there are for discrimination. However, Akerlund and Cheung (2000) warn against using such deficits models when viewing LGBT AA. Instead of focusing on the disadvantages, they suggest focusing on the strengths, such as improved coping skills, instead.
Stereotypes of Gay AA Males
Unfortunately, gay AA still maintain the stereotype of AA as feminine and submissive. Thus, the idea of a youthful looking, hairless, quiet AA man becomes a fetish for rice queens. These rice queens exclusively date AA males and are typically seen as white, older, rich, ugly men. Their AA boyfriends are much younger and economically dependent on them. The AA boyfriends are then called potato queens for only dating white men. Despite the fact that AA men may be settling for lower quality men, AA men consider their boyfriend's race to be so important status-wise that they disregard other aspects. Thus, AA may be internalizing these negative stereotypes to the point that they do not even feel attracted to other AA. They brush other AA off as loyal friends but do not find them exciting or attractive enough sexually. There are a small number of AA who are attracted to other AA who are referred to as "sticky rice". Again, the name itself is a stereotype. What is most telling though is the name for Caucasians attracted to other Caucasians: there is not one. Caucasians wanting other Caucasians is seen as the norm (Chang, 2012; Cho, 1998; Erbentraut, 2010; Poon and Ho, 2008). Sadly, Patrick Cheng (2011) points out that when the AA community does protest it is told to relax and just see the discrimination as harmless jokes.
Gay AA Men in Porn
Gay AA actors in pornography continue to perpetuate the idea of submission and passivity. There are few porn films with AA actors and those with AA actors are made with a white audience in mind (Cho 1998). When portrayed, the AA man is always the "bottom" in the sexual relationship, always on the receiving end. Another common role is the houseboy waiting for his white master to return, eager to serve in whichever way possible. In one such film called , when the white main character feels passive, he quite literally turns into an Asian man as symbolism. An Asian actor plays this "passive" white man during the scene. Another time where an Asian couple is shown, it is only to titillate the three white actor who joins in on their encounter (Fung 2004). It is not fair to just ask AA to watch porn from Asia because that is not their culture, they were raised and grew up in American culture. American porn should represent AA accordingly. Through the submissive treatment of their bodies in gay porn, AA men are again demeaned as a lesser members of the LGBT community.
Gay Men as Undesirable Sexual Partners
AA men are overall seen as undesirable sexual partners by the LGBT community. Erbentraut (2010) pointed out how it is a common and acceptable practice to include "no Asians" on dating profiles or complain that a party spot is overrun by Asians. Even an Asian-owned club would charge AA patrons but let Caucasians enter for free, thinking that Caucasians were the premium customers who would draw in other desirable patrons (Chang 2012). Rice queens are also not respected by the general LGBT community or even each other. Rather, they are seen as those who are not good enough to find another white partner (Cho 1998). In order to get these desired white men, AA men have to fight with not only one another but all of the other white men. On the contrary, there is much lower competition for AA men. It is unsurprising that all the discrimination against gay AA men leads to them being an undesirable commodity in the sexual marketplace.
Conclusion
Unfortunately the literature is limited on LGBT AA, focusing mostly on gay AA males. However, the research, both scientific and anecdotal, shows that gay AA male suffer higher amounts of discrimination due to racial stereotypes prevalent in the LGBT community. Gay AA males are seen as feminine and submissive, only appealing to a specific subgroup of rice queens. This passive image is reinforced through gay porn where AA males are on the receiving end of sexual activity rather than the dominating position. Gay AA men are seen as unattractive and at the power of the social power rankings in the LGBT community. Both AA and non-AA members alike of the LGBT community look down upon LGBT AA members as outcasts.