Negotiating space for queer-identifying young people in a refugee organization: viability, complexities and tensions

Churnjeet Mahn; EJ Milne; Mayra Guzman; Farhio Ahmed; Anonymous Members of RX

doi:10.1093/jrs/fez101

Negotiating space for queer-identifying young people in a refugee organization: viability, complexities and tensions

Churnjeet Mahn, EJ Milne, Mayra Guzman, Farhio Ahmed, Anonymous Members of RX

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

There is relative invisibility and silence around the presence, management and support of queer people in mainstream refugee organizations in the United Kingdom. Institutional silencing exists, particularly where visibility or acknowledgement has the potential to disrupt existing structures. At the same time, queer refugees face the risk of exclusion, and may also undertake self-censoring. Drawing on empirical data from an innovative, cross-disciplinary, community-based participatory research project between a United Kingdom-based refugee organization and two universities, this article explores the viability, complexities and tensions inherent in making queer identities visible. While highlighting the potential of arts-based methods to explore inclusive approaches to sexuality, we discuss the limits of this work and the resistance it created. This article is co-authored by members of RX—a collective of young people with refugee backgrounds; two community researchers; a humanities researcher; and a peace-studies researcher.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1477–1493
Number of pages	17
Journal	Journal of Refugee Studies
Volume	34
Issue number	2
Early online date	17 Dec 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/jrs/fez101
Publication status	Published - 1 Jun 2021

Bibliographical note

This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Journal of Refugee Studies following peer review. The version of record Mahn, C, Milne, EJ, Guzman, M, Ahmed, F & Anonymous Members of RX 2021, 'Negotiating space for queer-identifying young people in a refugee organization: viability, complexities and tensions ', Journal of Refugee Studies, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 1477–1493 is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/jrs/fez101

Funder

The project team gratefully acknowledges funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, United Kingdom under the Connected Communities Scheme. Grant Number AH/M005968

Keywords

lesbian
gay
bisexual
queer (LGBTQ)
refugees
young people
arts-based methods
Participatory Action Research
community-based research

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Sciences(all)
Arts and Humanities(all)

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1093/jrs/fez101

Post-PrintAccepted author manuscript, 895 KBLicence: Unspecified

https://academic.oup.com/jrs/advance-article/doi/10.1093/jrs/fez101/5680042

Cite this

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abstract = "There is relative invisibility and silence around the presence, management and support of queer people in mainstream refugee organizations in the United Kingdom. Institutional silencing exists, particularly where visibility or acknowledgement has the potential to disrupt existing structures. At the same time, queer refugees face the risk of exclusion, and may also undertake self-censoring. Drawing on empirical data from an innovative, cross-disciplinary, community-based participatory research project between a United Kingdom-based refugee organization and two universities, this article explores the viability, complexities and tensions inherent in making queer identities visible. While highlighting the potential of arts-based methods to explore inclusive approaches to sexuality, we discuss the limits of this work and the resistance it created. This article is co-authored by members of RX—a collective of young people with refugee backgrounds; two community researchers; a humanities researcher; and a peace-studies researcher.",

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Negotiating space for queer-identifying young people in a refugee organization: viability, complexities and tensions

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funder

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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