The Rhetoric of Gaydar Research: A Critical Discourse Analysis

Abstract

As dozens of countries around the world actively enforce antigay legislation or conduct antigay crackdowns, interest grows about research on “gaydar,” using nonverbal behavior to identify sexual orientation. Identifying sexual orientation based on perceptual cues is replete with social implications. Empirical evidence may add more fuel to the fire of hatred, discrimination, and punishment based on sexual orientation. This article addresses the highly charged debate on the ethics of research on identifying in-group and out-of-group membership in an increasingly polarized world of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) rights through critical discourse analysis (CDA) of text appearing on a public Internet discussion board in response to gaydar research. Analysis at the macro level placed the narrative in the broader social context. Analysis at the meso level focused on logistics and audience. The micro level of analysis revealed language used to convey thoughts and beliefs about gaydar research and its implications.