Indigenous Queer Spaces: Mapping Polynesian and American Voices and Traditions
Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Advisor
Arnaud Kurze
Access Type
Event
Start Date
26-4-2024 2:15 PM
End Date
26-4-2024 3:15 PM
Description
Drawing on the differing paradigms within Native American and Polynesian queer communities, we examine the re-emergence of these voices within their communities against the backdrop of the global queer movement. Recent queer literature has focused on the role of indigenous voices and practices in promoting greater visibility of sexual minorities among these communities. Our work takes a comparative angle, building on existing scholarship, particularly looking closely into those indigenous queer conceptions of gender and sexuality that originate from non-western cultural traditions. Based on several case studies, focused on North America and Polynesia, our study seeks to answer several questions, such as what types of challenges indigenous efforts face to claim queer spaces? And relatedly, why are native and indigenous voices important for the advancement of sexual minority rights more broadly? The research relies on qualitative methods, notably content analysis from various sources, including government documents, materials from tribal communities, social movements and news media. To map and track our findings, we use ArcGIS Storymaps to trace and compare these trends in both communities. We show that the communities in question, far from being homogenous, have developed distinct practices that enhance the visibility of their minorities in these groups. These distinct practices and the emergence of them further accentuate the role of non-western traditions against the backdrop of judeo-christian influences throughout the colonial period. It also sheds light on contemporary practices and norms diffusion of a global LGBTQ movement as a whole.
Indigenous Queer Spaces: Mapping Polynesian and American Voices and Traditions
Drawing on the differing paradigms within Native American and Polynesian queer communities, we examine the re-emergence of these voices within their communities against the backdrop of the global queer movement. Recent queer literature has focused on the role of indigenous voices and practices in promoting greater visibility of sexual minorities among these communities. Our work takes a comparative angle, building on existing scholarship, particularly looking closely into those indigenous queer conceptions of gender and sexuality that originate from non-western cultural traditions. Based on several case studies, focused on North America and Polynesia, our study seeks to answer several questions, such as what types of challenges indigenous efforts face to claim queer spaces? And relatedly, why are native and indigenous voices important for the advancement of sexual minority rights more broadly? The research relies on qualitative methods, notably content analysis from various sources, including government documents, materials from tribal communities, social movements and news media. To map and track our findings, we use ArcGIS Storymaps to trace and compare these trends in both communities. We show that the communities in question, far from being homogenous, have developed distinct practices that enhance the visibility of their minorities in these groups. These distinct practices and the emergence of them further accentuate the role of non-western traditions against the backdrop of judeo-christian influences throughout the colonial period. It also sheds light on contemporary practices and norms diffusion of a global LGBTQ movement as a whole.