CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2023
| Author | Mohammed, Azeenarh |
|---|---|
| Title | Performing In/Visibility; Resisting queer erasure in Lagos under the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act. |
| Summary | The thesis examines how queer individuals in Lagos, Nigeria, navigate and resist the erasure imposed by the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act (SSMPA). Despite legislative attempts to render queerness invisible, this study argues that the SSMPA has instead triggered and stimulated various forms of resistance among the queer community, which may not have been possible without the new legislation. Using interviews, and analysis of digital spaces and historical records, this thesis explores how queer individuals perform in/visibility in response to the expanded legal and social restrictions. The research focuses on the strategies and tactics employed by queer communities in Lagos to negotiate visibility and forge a sense of belonging. The findings reveal that the SSMPA has mobilized the queer community into using a range of strategies to resist erasure, including overt and covert sociopolitical means. Performative strategies used to challenge dominant narratives include the use use of fashion and body alteration to disrupt gender norms, the use of secret language and innuendo in public, anonymous online accounts, self-disclosure, mass media projects, and taking up physical space. By examining how queer individuals in Lagos negotiate visibility, this research demonstrates the resilience and agency of the queer community in the face of increasing discriminations. The findings underscore the importance of acknowledging and amplifying the voices of queer individuals, recognizing their agency, and supporting their efforts to create spaces of belonging and inclusion. This research contributes to the broader scholarly discourse on queer resistance and visibility in restrictive contexts, shedding light on the experiences of queer individuals in Lagos and providing insights into strategies that can empower and uplift marginalized communities. |
| Supervisor | Renkin, Hadley Zaun |
| Department | Gender Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2023/mohammed_azeenarh.pdf |
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