Border identities: Intersections of ethnicity and sexual orientation in the U.S.–Mexico borderland

The U.S. census data reveal high concentrations of same-sex unmarried partners in areas along the U.S.–Mexico border. In this article, I consider whether the above-average prevalence rates of same-sex unmarried partners along the U.S.–Mexico border can be attributed to measurement error, whether they provide evidence of enclave-like areas for Hispanic same-sex partners, or some combination thereof. Drawing on descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses, I examine data validity issues, as well as possible explanations for the high presence of gay men and lesbians in these particular residential locations. In doing so, I pay particular attention to the role of ethnicity, language, and household size in creating potential measurement error, as well as in generating attractive enclave characteristics. These findings provide insight into both the validity of the U.S. census data on same-sex unmarried partners, as well as the role of the intersection of sexual orientation and Hispanic ethnicity in determining residential choice. Although undoubtedly measurement error is a contributing factor, findings nonetheless support the existence of actual gay and lesbian enclaves and further suggest that immigration could play a role in generating these high concentration areas.