The postcolonial paradox

LGBTQ-inclusive communication and the colonial legacy in India

Bibliographic Data

ID21696077
AuthorsErica Ciszek (0000-0001-6402-7649, The University of Texas at Austin), Nikhita Tuli (0000-0001-5854-4084, Institute of Management Technology Ghaziabad)
Year2026
Volume30
Issue1
Pages56-72
Publication date2026-01-21
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Communication Management (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1363-254X • E-ISSN: 1478-0852
PublisherEmerald (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1108/jcom-09-2024-0162
OpenAlexW4411483749
LanguageEN
References cited38

Purpose This study examines LGBTQ-inclusive corporate communication in India through a postcolonial lens, analyzing how LGBTQ individuals perceive and interpret corporate messaging within the context of colonial legacies, global influences and sociocultural complexities to inform more authentic and equitable communication strategies. Design/methodology/approach This study employs in-depth interviews with LGBTQ individuals in India (n = 14), analyzed through thematic analysis and framed within postcolonial theory to explore perceptions of LGBTQ-inclusive corporate communication and its sociocultural implications. Findings The findings reveal that LGBTQ-inclusive corporate communication in India is shaped by colonial legacies, global LGBTQ advocacy influences and local cultural resistance, with participants critiquing corporate efforts as often superficial, profit-driven and disconnected from meaningful structural change. Research limitations/implications This study highlights the need for LGBTQ-inclusive corporate communication strategies in India to move beyond tokenism by integrating postcolonial perspectives, fostering authentic engagement with LGBTQ stakeholders and addressing systemic inequalities through culturally nuanced and structurally transformative initiatives. Practical implications This study underscores the necessity for corporations operating in India to adopt LGBTQ-inclusive communication strategies that go beyond performative allyship, prioritizing genuine stakeholder engagement, structural workplace inclusion and culturally sensitive advocacy to build credibility and drive meaningful social change. Originality/value This study offers a novel postcolonial perspective on LGBTQ-inclusive corporate communication in India, enriching communication management research by highlighting the interplay between cultural context and corporate practices

Originality · Political science · Public relations · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociocultural evolution · Sociology · Stakeholder · Thematic analysis · Tokenism · Gender Diversity and Inequality · Gender Studies

Tools

Open DOI