Graham Robertson: Walking the Tightrope

1. Walking the Tightrope:
Interrogating Narratives of Sexuality
through SOGI Asylum Claims
Presentation by:
Graham Robertson

2. • Linear, Western model of self-actualization
• Coming out, Pride parades, the rainbow flag
• LGBTQ+ community

3. • Challenge hegemonic narrative of “migration to
liberation nation”
• No singular model of sexuality
• Who constructs narratives? What are the implications
of narratives?

4. • What is included and what is excluded in narratives
of migrants and of sexuality?
• What are the life or death implications of these
narratives at the border?

5. • “Tightrope” of queerness: fit the hegemonic
narrative whilst remaining authentic
• How do we measure authenticity?
• Sexuality as an identity vs. a practice

6. • “Culture of disbelief”
• Narratives crafted by policymakers from the
Global North
• Refugee protection guided by liberal
international law

7. • Moving forward, consider alternative
modes of storytelling

8. Image Credits
• Slide 1: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/03/arts/design/review-one-
way-ticket-at-moma-reunites-jacob-lawrences-migration-paintings.html
• Slide 2: https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/03/19/pride-season-
coronavirus-cancelled-united-kingdom-states-asia-australia-europe/
• Slide 3: https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/Refugees?CMP=ILC-refresh
• Slide 4: https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/49.107/
• Slide 5: https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/tightrope-dancer-191566
• Slide 6: https://fullfact.org/europe/eu-facts-behind-claims-brussels-
bureaucrats/
• Slide 7: https://www.unhcr.org/neu/