Abstract
There appears to be a gap in the literature that examines the intersectionality of identities for the refugee subject, especially for queer refugees. As well, there is a prevalence of heteronormative discourses throughout the literature. In all cases, homophobic violence is named but I will argue this is not the problem; it is merely a symptom of a broken system rooted in discourses of securitization and heteronormativity. Currently, migration to Canada is overseen by an increasingly over-securitized state which treats refugee claimants as threats to the nation. Concomitantly, the cultural adherence to traditional, white, heteronormative identities adds another dimension of risk for racialized, queer refugee subjects. This research study examines the experiences of resettlement for racialized and queer refugees in Toronto – a city that claims to be a sanctuary for such refugee claimants. The findings show that although queer refugees are generally safe from blatant and overt forms of violence post-migration, they still feel the need to resort to strategic methods of discretion, as it takes time to unlearn the fear and insecurity that exists as a result of experiencing trauma in the previous country. The interviews demonstrate that although some queer refugees may have to overcome internal and external challenges in their resettled lives, ultimately the action of migrating to Canada has opened up a multitude of promising possibilities.
Highlights
AUTHOR’S DECLARATION FOR ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF A MAJOR RESEARCH PAPER (MRP) I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis or dissertation
This research study examines the experiences of resettlement for racialized and queer refugees in Toronto – a city that claims to be a sanctuary for such refugee claimants
The findings show that queer refugees are generally safe from blatant and overt forms of violence post-migration, they still feel the need to resort to strategic methods of discretion, as it takes time to unlearn the fear and insecurity that exists as a result of experiencing trauma in the previous country
Summary
Academic literature surrounding the migration and settlement of queer refugees has predominately surfaced in the past 16 years. The down low represents a secretive and underground form of queer expression that is compartmentalized from the rest of one’s life (McCune Jr, 2014) These factors are complex and can include the intersections of race, culture, refugee status, religion, and gender (Lim-Hing, 2005; Logie & Rwigema, 2014; Munro et al, 2013). When homosexuality was decriminalized through the Trudeau government of the 1960s, the Prime Minister proclaimed that “There’s no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation” (Pearson, 2004) This was a moment of progress for white and wealthier members of the lesbian and gay communities, it relegated socially-deviant sexualities to the private sphere of the bedroom (Pearson, 2004). The narratives shared by queer refugees in this study, provide deeper insight into the resettlement experience for those seeking status in Toronto
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