Feeling Out of Place and Creating Their Own Space: Young Queers of Colour in Sweden

Abstract

In this article, we explore the strategies and experiences of young queers of colour in Sweden. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with four young queers of colour, we discuss their experience in relation to belongingness, space and place. At the centre of our analysis is the notion of being ‘out of place’, that is, of not embodying the somatic norm of a specific position or space. The participants articulated how queer people of colour lack representation, both in mainstream society and in the queer community. According to the young participants, finding a community with other queers of colour was imperative for them to share experiences and feel belongingness. They strategically navigated and resisted heteronormative and racialized stereotypes in their everyday life. By claiming and creating their own spaces, these young people become social and political actors who are involved in renegotiating the meaning of a space and place.