‘Decolonising socio-political consciousness': second-generation LGBTQIA + South Asian experiences of finding the self and community in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

ABSTRACT Second-generation LGBTQIA + South Asians in Aotearoa New Zealand remain overlooked in mainstream queer discourse, with their identities inaccurately amalgamated with the broader LGBTQIA + community. Despite significant differences influenced by historical, socio-political, and cultural contexts, this population's experiences are often ignored. In early 2022, we conducted a community consultation to uncover these unique experiences, yielding 43 narratives through semi-structured interviews. This paper explores the interconnection between the sense of self, community, and the formation of identities. The complex and non-linear nature of these processes is particularly evident for second-generation LGBTQIA + individuals in the South Asian diaspora. The pursuit of a secure and authentic identity becomes arduous and compromising due to societal norms. We show that the intricate shaping of identities through the multifaceted lens of relationality offers a particular kind of socio-political consciousness.