Intimate migrations: exploring the experiences of LGB migrants from Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union in Scotland

尽管越来越多的实证研究聚焦于移民和同性性行为，但到目前为止，这项工作主要集中在北美。到目前为止，关于欧洲内部同性恋移民的实证研究很少，尽管整个欧洲对LGB(女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋)权利的认可程度非常参差不齐。这就提出了一个问题，即跨国移徙是否可以成为一种促进非异性习俗和身份认同以及获得性公民权的战略。拟议的项目将通过关注从后社会主义地区[东欧(EE)和前苏联(FSU)]移居苏格兰的LGB移民的生活经历，探索性行为如何影响欧洲内部的移徙。该项目的地理范围是及时的，因为比较调查表明，在政策、立法和对LGB公民的态度方面，欧洲内部存在东西方分歧，英国被列为最进步的欧洲国家之一，而后社会主义地区的大多数国家落后(FRA 2013)。此外，自2000年代中期以来，英国经历了来自该地区的高移民率，2004-2011年期间估计有653,000名东欧人在英国定居(瓦尔加斯-席尔瓦2013：4)。关注苏格兰作为移民目的地可以揭示与英国和欧洲内部同性恋移民相关的更广泛的问题，同时也提出了一个独特而有趣的案例，因为：i)最近大量移民从后社会主义地区涌入苏格兰；ii)与大多数其他英国地区相比，苏格兰的欧洲移民和非欧洲移民的比例更高；iii)苏格兰最近从一个移民国转变为一个移民平衡为正的国家；四)苏格兰的权力下放以及英国境内特定的人口和社会法律背景，尽管移民仍然是威斯敏斯特的一件事。该项目将对LGB移民的生活经历进行深入和微妙的探索，产生重要的原始数据和对于性在移民过程中的作用的新见解。该项目是跨学科的，借鉴了社会学、区域研究、人文地理学和人类学的经验、理论和方法见解。这项研究创新性地将以前孤立使用的理论框架(交叉性、跨国家主义和个人社区)结合在一起。它将传记访谈(第一阶段)与视觉方法(照片日记、社交图)和后续访谈(第二阶段)相结合，以捕捉移民经历、多重财产和情感依恋的复杂性。这项研究将探索性取向如何影响移民的原因、移民的经历和长期定居的计划。它还将把移民在他们在本国和东道国社会培养的社会网络中的舒适感、安全感和归属感联系起来，并考虑到性和种族在塑造移民的“个人社区”以及他们与移民的接触中所发挥的作用(Pahl和Spencer，2004)。在突出性别和种族的同时，研究还将考虑其他因素(如社会经济背景、性别、国籍、移民状况等)如何影响移民和重新安置的经历。这项研究将为性和移民研究中关于亲密、情感和个人社区在塑造移民和重新安置中所起作用的热门辩论提供新的经验和概念见解。这项研究还将产生公共和志愿部门的最终用户感兴趣的结果和产出。这将通过与与LGBT、移民和少数族裔社区合作的一系列利益攸关方的持续接触或促进平等和多样性议程的跨部门方法来实现。

Despite a growing body of empirical research focusing on migration and same-sex sexualities, this work has thus far mainly focussed on North America. To date, little empirical research has been conducted on intra-European queer migration, despite very uneven levels of recognition of LGB (lesbian, gay, bisexual) rights across Europe. This raises questions as to whether transnational migration can be a strategy for enabling non-heteronormative practices and identities, and for accessing sexual citizenship rights.The proposed project will explore how sexuality may shape intra-European migration through a focus on the lived experiences of LGB migrants who have moved to Scotland from the postsocialist region [Eastern Europe (EE) and the Former Soviet Union (FSU)]. The project's geographical scope is timely, as comparative surveys point to an East/West divide within Europe in terms of policy, legislation and attitudes towards LGB citizens, with the UK ranked among the most progressive European countries and most countries from the post-socialist region lagging behind (FRA 2013). Moreover, since the mid-2000s the UK has experienced high rates of immigration from the region, with an estimated 653,000 Eastern Europeans settling in the UK in the period 2004-2011 (Vargas-Silva 2013:4). A focus on Scotland as a migration destination can illuminate broader issues related to UK and intra-European queer migration, whilst also presenting a distinctive and interesting case, owing to: i) the significant recent influx of migrants from the post-socialist region to Scotland ii) the higher proportion of European to non-European migrants in Scotland compared to most other UK regions; iii) Scotland's recent shift from a country of emigration to a country with a positive migration balance; iv) Scotland's devolved government and specific demographic and socio-legal context within the UK, despite migration remaining a 'reserved' Westminster matter.This project will provide an in-depth and nuanced exploration of the lived experiences of LGB migrants, generating significant original data and fresh insights into the role of sexuality in the migration process. The project is interdisciplinary in nature, and draws on empirical, theoretical and methodological insights from sociology, area studies, human geography and anthropology. The research innovatively brings together theoretical frameworks previously used in isolation (intersectionality, transnationalism and personal communities). It combines biographical interviews (phase 1) with visual methods (photo diaries, sociograms) and follow-up interviews (phase 2), in order to capture the complexity of migrants' experiences, multiple belongings and emotional attachments. The research will explore how sexuality affects reasons for migrating, experiences of migration and plans for long-term settlement. It will also contextualise migrants' sense of (dis)comfort, (in)security and belonging within the social networks they cultivate across home and host societies, and consider the role played by sexuality and ethnicity in shaping migrants' 'personal communities' (Pahl and Spencer 2004) and their engagements with them. While foregrounding sexuality and ethnicity, the research will also consider how other factors (such as socio-economic background, gender, nationality, migration status etc) may affect experiences of migration and resettlement. The research will contribute fresh empirical and conceptual insights to topical debates in sexuality and migration studies on the role played by intimacy, emotions and personal communities in shaping migration and resettlement. The research will also generate findings and outputs of interest to end users from the public and voluntary sector. This will be achieved through a sustained engagement with a range of stakeholders working with LGBT, migrant and minority ethnic communities, or promoting intersectional approaches to equality and diversity agendas.