Power, identity, and sex among gay Filipino men in San Francisco

From 2005 to 2015, HIV incidence rates among Asian & Pacific Islander (A&PI) men who have sex with men (MSM) in the city and county of San Francisco doubled. (SFDPH, 2015). Among A&PIs living with HIV in San Francisco, Filipinos have seen disproportionate diagnoses at 33% (A&PIWC, 2011). Current research lacks further exploration into determinants of HIV risk behavior within Filipino American communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. This thesis explores three areas of identity among a sample of gay Filipino men in San Francisco—Ethnic Identity, Sexual Orientation, and Politicized Identity. Statistical analyses were used to examine each in its relationship with HIV risk behavior. Recommendations are provided for future HIV behavioral interventions targeting this community.