Locating Sexualities: From Here to Normality

Abstract

Lesbian and gay movements are increasingly demanding equal rights of citizenship on the grounds of being the ‘same’ as most heterosexuals. Citizenship is the central concept appealed to in calls for inclusion, and it is through claims to normalcy that social integration is justified. Moreover, it would appear that access to this new citizenship status is located primarily through being in a publicly recognized normative (good gay) couple relationship. This integration of lesbians and gay men into social and political life as ‘normal citizens’ represents a significant shift with important implications for (a) understandings of sexual citizenship, (b) the meanings and importance attached to sexual identities and (c) the public/private binary. This article will develop and extend previous theoretical work on sexuality and citizenship by considering these issues.