We are not the same: Latent profiles of political engagement among LGB young adults during the 2024 presidential campaign

A healthy democracy depends on political engagement underscoring the importance of understanding distinct ways in which lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) young adults respond to the current political moment. Political engagement can be conceptualized along a spectrum from manifest (civic advocacy) and latent engagement (informal discourse, such as consuming political news or engaging in interpersonal debates). Yet little is known about how these forms of political activities co-occur or are shaped by contextual and individual influences, particularly during periods of heightened political polarization and anti-LGB rhetoric, such as the months leading up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election. To address this gap, the present study employed a person-centered analytic approach to examine profiles of political engagement based on manifest and latent political behaviors, (civic advocacy, attention to political news, interpersonal political conflict), contextual factors (exposure to discrimination, perceived political climate) and individual factors (LGB identity centrality, political hope). Participants included 483 LGB young adults (30.2 % Lesbian, 41.2 % Gay, 28.6 % Bisexual; 38.7 % Black, 26.9 % Hispanic, 34.4 % non-Hispanic White; M age = 23.12 SD = 2.17, range = 18–35) surveyed a month prior to the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Latent profile analysis supported a four-profile solution: Disengaged Citizens, Engaged Citizens, Under-engaged Citizens, and Standby Citizens. These profiles were also differentially associated with demographic characteristics. Findings extend typological frameworks by illustrating how LGB young adults navigate sociopolitical environments shaped by both marginalization and resilience and underscore the value of tailored strategies to foster inclusive political participation during periods of heightened political polarization. • Understanding LGB young adults' political engagement is important for sustaining a healthy democracy. • Political engagement through civic engagement, attention to political news, and interpersonal discourse is shaped by context. • Four profiles differing in forms of engagement were found: Disengaged Citizens , Engaged Citizens , Under-engaged Citizens , Standby Citizens. • Political engagement profiles varied by exposure to discrimination, anti-LGB political climate, LGB identity centrality, and political hope.