Liu Yifu, Chatterjee Joyee Shairee
Gender & Development Studies, Department of Development and Sustainability, School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology, Pathum Thani, Thailand.
Cult Health Sex. 2025 Feb;27(2):191-204. doi: 10.1080/13691058.2024.2364768. Epub 2024 Jul 8.
The role played by activists' sexual orientation and gender identity in their involvement and commitment to LGBT movements is an understudied area in the Chinese context. Using identity and dramaturgical theory, this qualitative study explored how activists' work and commitment toward promoting LGBT rights and services is shaped and influenced by their identities. The study draws on data from life history interviews conducted with 20 long-time LGBT activists in Yunnan, China. The findings indicate that their sexual orientation and gender identities were, in the long run, seen as assets by the activists that shaped their work and commitment in the LGBT movement. Despite initial challenges in establishing identity-based connections with co-workers/clients, the emergence of sense of inclusiveness through recognition of activists' efforts, particularly when working with diverse gender and sexual minorities, stands out as a prominent theme in this context. This dynamic is important in bolstering the longevity of activists' commitment and building the continued momentum of LGBT movements in the region and internationally.
在中国背景下，社会活动家的性取向和性别认同在他们参与和投身于 LGBT 运动中所起的作用是一个研究不足的领域。本定性研究运用身份认同和戏剧理论，探讨了社会活动家对促进 LGBT 权利和服务的工作及投入是如何由他们的身份所塑造和影响的。该研究借鉴了对中国云南 20 位长期从事 LGBT 活动的人士进行的生活史访谈数据。研究结果表明，从长远来看，他们的性取向和性别认同被这些社会活动家视为塑造其在 LGBT 运动中的工作和投入的资产。尽管在与同事/客户建立基于身份认同的联系方面最初存在挑战，但通过认可社会活动家的努力而产生的包容感的出现，尤其是在与不同性别和性少数群体合作时，在这种背景下成为一个突出的主题。这种动态对于增强社会活动家投入的持续性以及在该地区和国际上推动 LGBT 运动的持续发展势头至关重要。
