Queerness is defined as "not being heterosexual" (Browne & Munt, 2019), but it also includes transgender identities and nonbinary gender expression. Queer people have experienced discrimination throughout history due to their perceived deviance from society's normative expectations for gender identity, sexual orientation, and expression. This has led to oppression and marginalization that still persists today.
Colonialism is a system of power and control that allows one group to dominate another through force and violence. Colonial moral regulation involves imposing cultural values upon colonized peoples, often in order to justify exploitation and oppression. In this context, queerness becomes an object of moral scrutiny, as it challenges colonial norms of gender conformity and family structure.
One example of colonial moral regulation is the British Empire's criminalization of same-sex relations between men in India. Under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which dates back to the Victorian era, homosexual acts were punishable by up to ten years in prison (Hunter, 2006). This law was used to police gay behavior and suppress queer communities, who faced social stigma and legal persecution as a result.
In addition to legislation, colonial powers also imposed religious and cultural beliefs on colonized peoples.
Missionaries brought Christianity to indigenous communities in North America, where it became a powerful tool for controlling indigenous bodies and sexual practices. Missionaries used scripture to condemn same-sex relationships and gender fluidity, promoting heteronormativity instead (Jordan & Tinker, 1994).
Queerness intersects with colonialism not only in terms of oppression but also resistance. Indigenous peoples resisted forced assimilation through practices such as two-spirit identity, which embraced both male and female traits and roles (Wallace, 2018). Two-spirit people defied colonial attempts at erasing their existence and reaffirmed their right to self-determination and self-expression.
Queer activists have challenged colonialism by highlighting its role in perpetuating oppression and violence against queer communities. In South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC) banned discrimination based on sexual orientation during apartheid, recognizing that LGBTQ+ people had been targeted by the state for political repression (Lodge, 2013). The ANC's struggle for liberation included calls for queer equality, setting an important precedent for other anti-colonial movements worldwide.
Queerness is an integral part of colonial moral regulation and control, as it challenges normative expectations for gender and sexuality. Queer individuals face oppression due to their perceived deviance from these norms, but they have also fought back against colonial power structures through acts of resistance and advocacy. By understanding the intersection between queerness and colonialism, we can work towards a more inclusive and equitable future.
How does queerness intersect with colonial moral regulation and control?
Queerness has been a significant factor in colonial moral regulation and control throughout history. In many ways, this intersection can be seen as a form of social control that reinforces heteronormative ideals and punishes individuals who defy them. One way in which this occurs is through the policing of gender norms and sexual practices within colonized communities.