Channelled queer censorship refers to the suppression, regulation, and invisibilization of queer identities and expressions that occurs through various institutional, algorithmic, cultural, and social infrastructures. In this essay, I will explore how these infrastructures enable channelled queer censorship and what future queer movements, network coalitions, alternative media architectures, and community platforms can do to envision expressive ecologies, network sovereignty, and new queer publics beyond suppression and normative frames.
The first factor that enables channelled queer censorship is institutional infrastructure. Institutional infrastructure includes laws, policies, and regulations that governments, corporations, and other institutions use to control queer expression.
Many countries have laws against homosexuality, which criminalizes same-sex relationships and makes it difficult for LGBTQ+ individuals to express themselves openly without fear of persecution or violence. Corporate infrastructure also plays a role in channeling queer censorship by creating marketing campaigns that exclude or tokenize queer people.
Companies often target heteronormative audiences with their advertising, leaving little room for queer representation.
The second factor is algorithmic infrastructure. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are powerful tools for communication and self-expression, but they are also designed to promote specific content based on user engagement. Algorithms prioritize content that gets more likes, comments, and shares, which means that queer content may be suppressed if it doesn't fit into the mainstream narratives of beauty, romance, and sex. This leads to the erasure of queer identities and experiences from social media feeds, making it harder for people to connect with each other and build communities online.
Cultural infrastructure also plays a significant role in channeling queer censorship. Societal norms and values shape how we understand gender, sexuality, and intimacy, leading to the invisibilization of queer expressions.
The idea that marriage should only occur between two people of different genders implies that non-binary and polyamorous relationships are not legitimate. This cultural narrative perpetuates misinformation about queerness and makes it challenging for individuals to explore their identities freely.
Social infrastructures are also crucial in enabling channelled queer censorship. These infrastructures include family dynamics, religious beliefs, and societal expectations that reinforce traditional gender roles and heteronormativity.
Some families may reject or shun members who identify as LGBTQ+, leading to isolation and trauma. Religious institutions often condemn homosexuality, making it difficult for queer individuals to find acceptance within their faith communities.
There is hope for future queer movements, network coalitions, alternative media architectures, and community platforms to create expressive ecologies, network sovereignty, and new queer publics beyond suppression and normative frames. One way they can do this is by building alternative networks and platforms where queer voices can be heard without fear of censorship. Network sovereignty means having control over one's data and privacy, which allows individuals to share their stories and experiences without worrying about being monitored or surveilled. Expressive ecologies refer to creating spaces for diverse expressions of identity and desire, such as queer art, music, fashion, and culture. New queer publics mean creating a space where queer individuals can come together and support each other outside the mainstream narratives and structures that oppress them.
Institutional, algorithmic, cultural, and social infrastructures enable channelled queer censorship, erasure, invisibility, and regulation. By exploring these factors, we can understand how queerness is suppressed and how to challenge it through collective action, creative expression, and self-determination.