Difficult belongings

Abstract

The emergence of queer theory and politics in the 1990s was widely touted as heralding a new era of sexual inclusivity. However, this has not proved to be the case for everyone. This fictocritical essay features three vignettes of gay male Asian migrants living in Australia. We suggest that the sense of belonging these men develop is complex and difficult. All three subjects find themselves straddling two artificially polarised worlds: the white and modern world of 'gay Australia' and the racialised and striated 'migrant' world. This work explores some intersections of sexuality, belonging, race and migration in contemporary Australia through alternating acts of scholarly and creative writing.