User:LE2003/L’s LGBTQ+ Migration and Immigration, Queer African Communication, and Asian Queer Communication Studies

African LGBTQ+ Communication
LGBTQ+ individuals across many countries in Africa experience discrimination and cultural backlash for their identities. The traditional beliefs in Africa value male family leaders, therefore queer relationships take away from their cultural norms, creating discourse about LGBTQ+ identities. Africa, specifically Ghana is home to discourse about LGBTQ+ identities. In Ghana, the existence of queer individuals is often followed by anti LGBTQ+ violence. Identifying as queer in Ghana can lead to violence or threats of violence and blackmail. Some same sex loving men in Ghana refuse to identify with the LGBTQ+ community due to the stigma surrounding the word "Gay". The "Sassoi" men in Ghana challenge heteronormativity by refusing to come out and put labels on their sexuality. These men often face communication issues in healthcare settings where they are reluctant to tell providers that they engage in sexual activity with other men. Similar to Ghana, Kenya commonly hold misconceptions about the LGBTQ+ community. Cultural myths and folk tales cause individuals to fear and dislike towards the LGBTQ+ community.

Queer Immigration and Migration
Immigrants in the United States are often shown in a poor light, being painted as criminals and a threat to nationality. In addition to the media representation of immigrants being one sided, giving only a certain view of undocumented individuals, as a whole, immigration is underrepresented. Queer undocumented individuals face an intersectional type of discrimination. While navigating their new lives in a new country, they are also facing discrimination based on their sexuality or gender. Even in countries with more accepting views towards the LGBTQ+ community, the life of a queer migrant is still difficult to navigate. In countries such as the Netherlands, where LGBTQ+ rights are prevalent, navigating life as a queer immigrant continues to be a treacherous journey. There is also the issue of how immigration and being queer impacts individuals psychologically. Queer migrants report stressors including seeking asylum, their future in their new country, and cultural differences entering a new country. The addition of being LGBTQ+ adds another stressor to the individuals, migrants may fear for their safety or eligibility for asylum if it is discovered they are queer. Many queer individuals also have residual fear or anxieties about their sexuality due to the way they were treated in their country of origin.