Kuchu activism, queer sex-work and "lavender marriages," in Uganda's virtual LGBT safe(r) spaces
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2182541 |
|---|---|
| Authors | A Bryan (0000-0002-3115-3638, North Carolina State University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2019 |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 90-105 |
| Publication date | 2019-01-02 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Eastern African Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1753-1055 • E-ISSN: 1753-1063 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/17531055.2018.1547258 |
| OpenAlex | W2901855611 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 9 |
| References cited | 23 |
This article builds on Michael Warner's theory of "damaged publicness" to examine virtual queer counterpublics in Uganda. Online spaces have become a viable platform for LGBT Ugandans, locally known as kuchus, to network, organize and gain visibility. Gay "hook-up" apps, like Grindr, Scruff, and online chatrooms such as Planet Romeo provide opportunities for users to express what often cannot be expressed in public. I investigate these virtual LGBT counterpublics ethnographically through fieldwork in Kampala from June 2015 to June 2016. I argue that Uganda's virtual queer spaces, however "private" or "public" are counterpublics, a form of space ownership bringing legitimacy to the being of "deviant" and utilized to meet specific social, cultural and economic needs
Citizen journalism · Legitimacy · Political science · Politics · Private space · Public relations · Public space · Queer · Social media · Sociology · Transgender · African Sexualities and LGBTQ+ Issues · Computer Science · Engineering · Gender Studies · Law · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
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| Unique citing works | 9 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1,29 |
| Citation span | 2019 - 2026 (8) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 9 |