Sabelo's Journey as a Young Black Gay Man in South Africa and the Potential of the Grindr App.

Abstract

Drawing from a case-study, this paper examines 18-year-old Sabelo's journey as a young black gay man in South Africa. Against the backdrop of heteronormativity and entrenched gender roles, Sabelo navigates a landscape where expressions of queer sexuality are often met with resistance. Focusing on a semi-structured interview, Sabelo's narrative reveals the pressure to conform to traditional masculinity and a sense of living a "double life" where acceptance is tied to economic success. Sabelo "acts straight" to manage the obligatory norms around masculinity and "coming out" increased tensions and the pressure to conform. Despite this, the emergence of the dating platform, Grindr, reflects a paradoxical landscape of opportunities and possibilities. Using the concept of the "queer assemblage," the paper argues for the significance of dating apps as more-than-human entities, in providing alternate pathways for sexual expression for young black gay identifying men. In conclusion, digital platforms offer space for transformative potential in subverting heteronormativity and providing queer individuals with spaces for self-expression.