Queer Geography

Definition

Queer Geography is a branching of critical geography fostering non-essentialist and post-structuralist perspectives; through a relational lens of sexuality, space and place. Engaging with emerging perspectives in anarchist, feminist, anti-colonial and anti-racist pedagogy; these function as intersections to construct a conceptualization of queer spaces and further expand into an analysis of the deviations from multiple social, sexual (and spatial) norms.

Queer Geography (a branch in spatial analysis of Queer Theory) conflicts with other veins of gender, race, sexuality & social justice – specifically in relation to their definitions and academic approaches, though in fact, these are distinct; yet overlapping fields. While sexuality and space is dedicated to the examination of issues pertaining to sexualities in a philosophical, theoretical and historical lens; queer geography (often) focuses on specific issues related to LGBT experiences and bodies, from a (human) spatial sciences perspective. Queer Geography was not brought forth independently of other scholarly fields. During the rise of the term between 2005-2009, the methodological and theoretical tools that sparked academic engagements focused mainly on non-normative deviations, including gender relations and free-spirited sexualities, and have now been expanded to include topics such as sexual and deviant ontology, as discussed below.

Origins

The origins of the word 'Queer' in itself is a contested term with a multitude of contradictions and conflicts in usage and application. The use of this word in a geographic context refers primarily with the body of literature that arises from political and intellectual developments from spatial academia and radical sexual politics. The hallmark establishment of the term Queer is at the intersection of inclusive and essentialist thought, goals of which almost always create tensions. When used as an umbrella term for non-normative sexual subjects, 'queer' evolves as an expansive and inclusive terminology at the expense of oppressed actors and bodies ('queer of colour', lesbian, transsexual, migrant).

Queer Theory

What is understood today as Queer Theory arose out of the humanities during 1990 by Teresa De Lauretis, credited as the first to officially coin this term. Henceforth, Eve Sedgwick and Judith Butler have dedicated much of their work to deconstructing hetero/homosexual binaries and questioning the normative use of these words and categories.

The deepest root of the problem in illustrating a clear definition of 'Queer' is contested between the use of the term, where free-spirited sexual orientations (LGBT), and 'Queer(ness)' defined as 'unusual', 'weird' or 'strange' are hardly distinguishable due to the significant historical changes in usage. However, recent academic reclaiming of the term seeks to rework the negative connotations associated with the term that challenge to dispute and contest the 'naturalness' of heterosexuality while also demanding recognition of a term which moves beyond the limits of identity of 'lesbian' and 'gay', demanding the inclusion of trans, bisexual, two-spirited and gender-neutral folk.

Queer Ontology/ies

Queer Geography has colossal potential as an emerging field to foster ideas in the reconfiguration of spatial ontology and radical geographical thought. Feminist geographers, such as Juanita Sundberg, have created a foundation for much of this ongoing conversation through the dedication of critical gendered spaces, and spatial phenomena of gender . Two things should be noted from this discussion, 'queer' not only suggests the deconstruction of human sexuality, but fundamentally incorporates gender, race and society as subjective to lived experiences (of queer identity). Second, the subjective positions of man/woman as fixed genders reflect sexed bodies which become uncertain in the performance of sex and gendered acts. Butler, for example, uses drag queens and kings to suggest gender as an act that is not necessarily related to genital organs. However, a clear distinction between performativity and performance is necessary to delineate the difference between a one-off act that does not necessarily include bodies, identities and spaces but rather are constituted through performativity, which is a set of repeated acts that are largely policed through prevailing capitalist and consumerist practices.

Heteronormativity

The stability of sexual identity terminology: gay, lesbian, homo/heterosexual is questionable and debates regarding the use of these binaries are common, specially in relation to the homo/hetero dichotomy. From within these debates, arose the term 'heteronormativity', which seeks to address how son/mother relations inform these constructions and are reinforced through racial, gendered, able-bodied and other "minority" imaginaries. Vital to this discussion, is the 'othering' of homosexuality. Many researchers point to post-coloniality as the catalyst for this construction. Butler argues that homosexuality is originated by heterosexuality as heteros was and is established by the 'otherness' to homos. Alike racial and gender constructions, the 'otherness' enables a norm from which deviancy can be discussed. Thus, definitions and performances of sexuality are changing constantly, and as geographers argue, spatially. Much of the literature on the (spatial) fluidity of sexuality is dedicated to the linkages between objects of desire and assumed sex-gender practices.

The lessening of these normative categories is rooted in the argument that norms are not simply constructed, but are multiplied and continually reinforced through the many ways sexuality and gender fail to be re-iterated 'correctly'; This reproduction and enforcement results in the public and discreet forms of policing that enables a plethora of normative frames, 'commonsense norms', and the policing of sexualized and sexed acts, disrupting queer identities, politics, actions and moments.

Queer Spaces

Queer Theory was in large part developed by United Statesian and Canadian academics – geography of which is often viewed as 'gringocentric' through a set of theories that have little application beyond their hegemonic and imperialist contexts. For example, 'Queer' as being synonymous of 'gay' and 'lesbian' is in itself part of a definition of these globalizing phenomena processes. Such global queer agendas and identities fail to recognize cultural differences and diversity of sexuality beyond the Global North's contexts. Alike gender, sexuality too, has geographic formations that are both non-normative and normative across the globe. One example of this is in Indonesia, where lesbianity is seen as deviant, but women can live in common-law partnership, as long as one partner adopts the butch (masculine) role.

From within this vein, geographers contend that sexuality is fluid, enacted in context, and spatially unpredictable. Works within these lines challenge how space is always-already assumed to be 'heterosexual' (and largely male), or how daily repetition of heterosexual relations becomes the norm.

Internet

Boyd & Ellison (2008) define social networking sites as platforms that allow individuals to construct public or semi profiles within a particular network. SNSs not only “allow individuals to meet strangers, but rather that they enable users to articulate and make visible their social networks” . In the post-modern condition, social networking sites are a quotidian part of online habits for most users, in both in the Global North & South, who do not see these technologies as new so much as essential.

How do these networks influence sexual norms? In short, geo-social applications provide a novel opportunity to communicate and locate potential romantic and sexual partners. The studies of online dating indicate that users of these sites are not just digital natives, but often times are older users who grow frustrated with the more traditional means of finding a mate (Stephure et al., 2009). Another important element in an attempt to understanding the social functions of social networking is the its role in free-spirited gay male culture, as a place to locate friends, sexual partners (and sometimes even first-timers) in a broader cultural context where being “out” and “public” is not always an option. For example, in a geography where sexualities are often policed, such as the Turkish case, the conservative government utilizes internet censorship to limit society's access to these social networks. Grindr, the most widely use male-to-male contact application worldwide, has been banned. Hence, other applications have been created to bypass the government filters. Ultimately, sexual minorities commonly discriminated can often turn to SNS as a safe space to connect with others and to explore their sexual identities.

Screenshot of Grindr

Grndr

Launched in 2009, Grindr is a GPS-enabled networking site that connects gay males with other guys in their vicinity. The application functions by allowing users to create a profile with a photo and basic “stats” (height, age, ethnicity, etc). The simplicity, and success of the application relies on the fact that it locates other users nearby and facilitates instant messages, photo exchanges and real-time GPS maps. The needs for networking with other humans of the same sexual orientation pre-date the age of digital technology. For example, before the Second World War, many gay men in New York City lived a double life to cope with the aggressive, homophobic era (Chauncey, 1994). Codes of dress, speech and style were enabled so they would recognize each other on the street. Handkerchiefs of various colours, worn in various pockets also became a method for recognition (Chauncey, 1994). Thus, the phenomenon of seeking anonymous sexual encounters has moved online, at least in part, with folks logging on to various sites and apps to exchange information and to find each other, through these encounters.

Cuba

During the 60's-80's, organized campaigns against gays (and lesbians) were commonplace in Cuba, hence the early stages of a new socialist Cuba would find homosexuality a threat to the new domestic citizenry required to create a new Marxist-Lenist state and to (re)produce a revolutionary patriarchal ideology. Although lesbianity was also prosecuted, such government-sponsored oppression was even less documented.

Reinaldo Arenas

Reinaldo Arena's autobigraphy

Cuban novelist, Reinaldo Arenas (1943-1990) could be easily be credited as the pioneer of Latin Americanist Queer Geography, hence his contributions to the discipline have twofold importance: foremost, he would be persecuted for linkages of his free-spirited sexuality to his work, writing most of his brilliant pieces at the peaks of counterrevolutionary periods and second, his Anti-Castro campaign produced after landing refuge in the United States (Mariel boat-lift in 1980) exposed the realities of Castro's revolutionary imprisonment (mostly in sugar cane plantations), LGBT persecution and state-sponsored embarrassment. In his autobiography, Antes Que Anochezca, he reveals intimate details of Cuban male sexualities (and geographies) from upbringing as a peasant in the interior, to quotidian casual encounters in Havana – right up to his defection. Arenas – who while forced to work in a sugar cane plantation under Castro’s regime, for being openly homosexual, wrote El Central.

El Central constitutes as a human, political and geographic testimony of the post-colonial condition. Reinaldo Arenas structures the text in three planes of reality: the exploitation of indigenous bodies, which after being completely annihilated resulted in the importation of slaves from Africa and embeds these experiences in quotidian Cuban labour camps, effectively suggesting repetitive historic cycles rooted in post-coloniality and engaging very relevant linkages between the contemporary human condition with that of the pre-and post colony.

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