Out of the closet, into the lagom(?) : Perceptions and Feelings of Inclusion, Exclusion, and Belonging among Queer Migrants in Sweden.

Abstract: Despite the increasing interest in asylum seekers and refugees within the field of migration studies, there has been a gap in queer migrants’ research. This thesis is an attempt to investigate how migrant and gender identity are influencing each other and how they lead to experiences of both inclusion and exclusion in Swedish society, based on experiences of six queer migrants. In the first half, there is a presentation and criticism on migrant theories and previous studies related to the subjects of migration, gender and sexuality. There is also an attempt to defining queer and presenting how it intersects with migrant identity, through the stages of welcoming, adapting, developing, and maintaining oneself in a Swedish level. Finally, aspects of space and feelings of belonging are discussed further on. The second half of the thesis consists of a methodological part and the analysis of the interviews with queer migrants in Sweden, leading to further discussions, additional thoughts, and suggestions.