Living with the Labels of Gay and Lesbian in Africa. A country case study: Senegal

My research focuses on homosexuality in Africa, especially the daily experiences of people living with the labels of gay and lesbian in Senegal. Studies of homosexual populations are relatively new in Africa, although there is some work that addresses homosexuality during the colonial or pre-colonial periods. Regrettably, the few studies that exist have privileged homophobia, thus reinforcing the invisibility of gays and lesbians in a context where homosexual behavior is criminalized, and homosexuals suffer from social illegitimacy. The main objective of this research is to understand homosexual displays within a society dominated by a « compulsory heterosexuality ». This research generally examines gender issues in Africa, representations of sexuality, and the struggles for recognition of sexual minorities. Through an ethnographic investigation and analysis of discourses among this heterodox sexuality, I want to capture not only the heterosexual imaginary in Senegal, but also the meanings and implications of homosexual identity. From a theoretical point of view, this research is located between cultural criminology, queer theories and theories of recognition.