Affective belonging and negotiated authenticity: Vietnamese gay men navigating sexuality, kinship and emotional health in Thailand.

Abstract

This study examined how Vietnamese gay men negotiate sexuality, kinship, and emotional health during their educational studies in Thailand. Drawing on narrative interviews with ten participants and informed by theories of negotiated authenticity, performativity, and affective belonging, it conceptualises queer identity work as a relational, health-preserving practice rather than a linear 'coming-out' trajectory. Participants described studying abroad as an emotional breathing space from family pressured while also confronting new vulnerabilities shaped by class, national identity, and Thai cultural norms - including restrained public displays of affection and a 'regime of images' that calibrate visibility. Selective disclosure emerged as a key strategy for reducing shame and conflict, maintaining kin ties, and protecting concentration while at university. Kinship obligations grounded in filial duty continued to organise belonging across borders, producing partial openings in the form of episodic moments of recognition and safety without categorical liberation. The research extends lifespan and context-sensitive queer identity models by specifying how affective belonging operates in intra-Asian mobility and by foregrounding its implications for wellbeing. Policy and practice recommendations follow from the findings. Culturally attuned counselling, peer-led support, confidentiality safeguards, and referral pathways can translate affective belonging into institutional arrangements that sustain students' mental health alongside academic success.