The practice of concealing one's LGBTQIA+ identity is known as self-censorship or concealment. It is an important aspect of queer individuals living in conservative or surveillance-rich societies because it allows them to avoid discrimination and stigma. This article will examine how queer individuals enact self-censorship or concealment, how micro-social, technological, and psychological mechanisms enable this behavior, and what consequences might follow for community cohesion if emerging distributed, encrypted, and peer-to-peer communication systems shift these mechanisms.
Micro-social mechanisms refer to the ways that individuals interact with each other within a social setting. In conservative or surveillance-rich societies, such interactions often involve hidden cues, code-switching, and covert communications.
A queer individual may use nonverbal gestures like hand holding or subtle body language to signal their sexual orientation without explicitly stating it. They may also use euphemisms or double entendres to communicate about sexual topics without using explicit language. Psychologically, queer individuals may engage in self-monitoring, which involves monitoring their own thoughts and actions to ensure they conform to societal norms. This can lead to internalized homophobia or transphobia, where the individual begins to believe negative stereotypes about themselves. Technologically, queer individuals may use secure messaging apps or encryption to protect their privacy while communicating with others online.
These tools are not foolproof and can be monitored by governments or corporations.
As for emerging distributed, encrypted, and peer-to-peer communication systems, they have the potential to disrupt traditional models of censorship and surveillance.
Decentralized platforms like Mastodon allow users to create their own communities and share content without relying on a central authority. Peer-to-peer networks like BitTorrent enable users to directly connect with each other without going through an intermediary. Encrypted messaging applications like Signal provide end-to-end encryption, making it difficult for third parties to intercept messages. These technologies could enable more open and honest communication among queer individuals, leading to greater community cohesion.
They may also put queer individuals at risk if they reveal personal information that could compromise their safety.
This article has examined how queer individuals enact self-censorship or concealment in conservative or surveillance-rich societies. Micro-social, technological, and psychological mechanisms contribute to this behavior, but new communication tools may shift these mechanisms. The consequences for community cohesion will depend on how queer individuals respond to these changes.
Creating safe and supportive spaces for all individuals is essential for promoting social justice and equality.