Desexualizing Queer Identities: Methods to Validating Non-Sexual Romantic Attraction and Relationships

<p>There is an increase in the negative views of queer and LGBT+ people in America, and I argue that it is, in part, due to the sexualized connotations of, and sexual association with, queer and LGBT+ identities. Innocuous acts by queer or LGBT+ people, such as being an out school teacher or holding hands in a public space, is enough for non-LGBT+ people to become uncomfortable to varying degrees and, sometimes, even cause verbal abuse or violence. When we look at queer or LGBT+ representation through the possibility of queerness, and by reading representations of queer and LGBT+ romantic attraction through non-sexual signs such as sacrifice, affection, desire, and trust, we begin to normalize non-sexualized identities of queer and LGBT+ people. Importantly, we validate non-sexual romantic expressions and relationships of all kinds, asexual included. We also work towards positive and non-sexualized representations of queer and LGBT+ people being reproduced by institutions of knowledge production, such as media and academia.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

Master

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Women's and Gender Studies

Grantor

The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York

Year dc:date.available

2020

Author dc:creator

• Patel, Unnati

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Mario DiGangi

• Communication
• Critical and Cultural Studies
• Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
• Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies
• Other Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
• sexuality
• asexual
• romantic attraction
• non-sexual
• desire

Repository record dc:identifier

https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/3743

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:academicworks.cuny.edu:gc_etds-4803