Deconstructing the Homonormative Spaces: Mapping the Politics of Queering of Geographical Space in South Asian Narratives.

Abstract

A homonormative space is an extension of queer identity. It exemplifies an exclusionary spatial arrangement shaped by the liminality of its queer occupants. These spaces become exclusive geographical orchestrations, often mystified in their transient presence. Homonormative space can manifest in two primary ways: one with a fixed spatial arrangement frequented by queer individuals-such as parks, cinemas, or cafés-and the other marked by spatial liminality. Both types depend on their boundaries within a dominant heteronormative infrastructure and the prevailing tolerance levels under which queerness is expressed. A third configuration is the virtual homonormative space. These digital environments are less vulnerable to physical regulation and offer ephemeral, subversive possibilities for queer utopic futurity, aligning with Baudelaire's notion of "the transient, the fleeting and the contingent." However, both physical and digital queer spaces can also reproduce class-based exclusions. Bourgeois conventions often dictate access to visibility and safety, necessitating a materialist feminist critique. Neoliberal logics commodify queerness and reinforce exclusion through economic gatekeeping. This paper examines the anatomy of homonormative spaces in contemporary South Asia. Through close readings of queer South Asian poetry, it explores how space is queered, surveilled, tolerated, and erased, and how neoliberalism shapes spatial belonging and queer imaginaries.