On Queer Exclusions in Beirut: A Study from Within

Abstract

Queer spaces are not uniform in their infrastructure. These spaces replicate the social fabric of the society they are built in. However, scholarship in Middle Eastern Queer Studies has overlooked the subject of aggression in queer spaces. Aggressions and exclusions are often introduced by activists as an external force that unites queer individuals in their cause. However, studies have not dedicated enough space to look at the dynamics amongst individuals within queer spaces. Adopting an intersectional feminist lens, this thesis explores the exclusionary dynamics in queer spaces in Beirut. To address the gap in the literature, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was utilized as the main research method through interviews with 6 participants that are queer and have experienced exclusions within queer spaces in Beirut. The findings reveal the different aspects of the queer culture that participants have experienced and their influence on the exclusionary feelings and alienation from the queer movement. This thesis aims to introduce marginalized voices into the discourse of queer activism in order to contextualize, reform, and recreate more inclusive and intersectional queer spaces that allow for queer movement-building in Lebanon.