New Identities or New Intimacies? Rethinking ‘Coming Out’ in Taiwan through Cross-Generational Ethnography

Abstract

In this article, the author analyzes the emergence of a 'coming out' discourse in Taiwan and the generational variation in its relevance for queer lives. Drawing from fieldwork with gender and sexually nonconforming people ranging in age from their 20s to their 70s, she argues that dominant identity-based frameworks are inadequate for understanding how and why this discourse has emerged in Taiwan at this historical moment. The findings point instead to generational shifts in familial interdependency and intimacy, which require new and hybridized strategies for managing gender and sexuality within families. This article highlights the importance of placing the small but growing body of work on LGBT family of origin relationships in conversation with theories of parenthood, kinship and family change.

Unpacking the Roles of Religion and Partisanship on Support for Same-Sex Marriage: Evidence from South Korea

“…While not a religion, Confucian influences arguably serve a similar moral and philosophical function. Although lacking doctrinal opposition to homosexuality, Confucian societal expectations may discourage support for LGBT rights due to the emphasis on distinct male and female gender roles (e.g., Brainer, 2018; Yang and Yen, 2011) as well as filial piety, obedience and conformity. In this context, same-sex marriage could be viewed as an affront to traditional family values.…”

“…In accordance with Confucian values, the prioritization of traditional family values and “marriage as an institution,” encompassing both the ability to produce children within a marriage and the stigmatization of divorce, are the “best predictors of whether or not a country recognizes gay marriage” (Adamczyk and Cheng, 2015: 279). In addition, instead of “coming out,” which is common in western countries, some individuals choose to reveal their sexual orientation through implicit rather than explicit discussion (Brainer, 2018; also see Engebretsen, 2013). However, the stigma against overt conversation of homosexuality and same-sex relationships does not induce an environment receptive to the legalization of same-sex marriage, a problem that likely extends to South Korea as well.…”

Be a Responsible and Respectable Man: Two Generations of Chinese Gay Men Accomplishing Masculinity in Hong Kong

“…In Hong Kong, the most frequently cited work is Lui's (2007) study of four generations of Hongkongese. A rare example of generational sexuality research in the Chinese context is Brainer's (2017) discussion of the "coming out" discourses of different generations of Taiwanese LGBT. However, studies of generation or generational sexualities pay little attention to masculinity.…”

Addressing heteronormativity: Gendered familial appellations as an issue in the same-sex marriage debate in Taiwan

“…4 While assumed heterosexuals can simply ‘pass’ without declaring their sexual orientations, sexual minorities often face the dilemma of revealing this specific personal information to others or the general public (see e.g. Brainer, 2018; Denes and Afifi, 2014; Griffith and Hebl, 2002; Haider-Markel, 2010; Huang, 2011; Orne, 2011; Wang et al., 2009). Even if the term ‘heterosexuality’ is used and made visible in social interactions, there may be no common understanding for the identified individuals to grasp the meaning of the term (see Jackson, 1999).…”