Queer Stigma on Social Media: A Sentiment Analysis of YouTube Video Comments

Abstract

This paper is based on a sentiment analysis conducted on comments of YouTube videos about the Supreme Court of India’s verdict of October 17, 2023 concerning the legalisation of same-sex marriage. The paper attempts to analyse the prevalence of anti-queer sentiments in online comments and understand them in context of the social stigma surrounding the queer community in India. First, the prevalence of anti-queer sentiments, pro-queer sentiments and neutral sentiments are quantified. Second, the different themes significant to a particular sentiment are identified. Finally, the relevance of anti-queer sentiments in propagation of messages stigmatising the queer community is discussed.