Authors

David Rypel¹;  ¹ UCL SSEES, UK

Discussion

This paper explores how queer people in Georgia move to enhance their sense of security. However, instead of framing their movement in terms of geography, I use the lens of normative regimes. This helps me make sense of a paradox I encountered during my field research: Many Georgian queers fled the country due to feelings of danger. In contrast, queers who immigrated to the country from other places, such as Russia, often expressed excitement about the range of possibilities that life in Georgia seemed to offer them in contrast to their home country—they felt freer as queers.

In my paper, I argue that queers face different sets of normative expectations based on their perceived belonging. Those recognised as members of the collectivity must adhere to its regime of belonging, i.e., a set of norms that determine what the “proper” member must be and look like; failure to conform can result in punishment. Conversely, those who are perceived as outsiders become “strangers” who are largely exempt from in-group rules, though they may still face regulations imposed on outsiders and other forms of violence. Therefore, the movement for survival is less about crossing a geographical boundary and more about escaping the reach of their collectivity of belonging—whether it is their compatriots, family members or partners. Moreover, people move not only away from collectivities and regimes but also towards those they believe will better support their well-being. This paper is based on the data collected between 2019 and 2023 as part of my ethnographic research on the everyday security of queer people in Georgia.