Intersections of Belonging: Friendship Dynamics Among Chinese LGBTQ+ Migrants in Canada and the US


Tori Yang, University of British Columbia; Sean Lauer, University of British Columbia

Friendship has been intertwined with the sociology of migration for more than 100 years (Park and Burgess, 1921) with friendships that cross ethnic boundaries being of particular interest. These friendships are often considered a sign of the blurring of ethnic boundaries (Rumbaut 2001). These friendships sometimes cross rather than blur boundaries, developing from an attraction to difference (Yodanis and Lauer 2017). The persistence of prejudice and exclusion also contributes to the maintenance of boundaries and homogeneous friendships (Portes and Zhou 1993). Early assimilation approaches (Gordon 1964) considered the integration of intimate non-familial relationships an indicator of ethnic boundaries no longer being significant. These early approaches view integration into the mainstream as the ultimate outcome of assimilation processes. More recent neo-assimilation approaches emphasize that both majority and minority groups change over time until ethnic distinctions decline (Alba and Nee 2003). Queer migration scholarship takes migration studies’ focus beyond ethnicity and gender to underline the structuring role of sexuality in immigration and integration. Queer migrants often resist a teleological narrative pointing to eventual assimilation by negotiating multiple forms of differences and maintaining hybridity of identities (Manalansan 2003). When it comes to friendship ties in the post-migration context, the intervention by queer migration scholarship poses important questions that have the potential to disrupt the normative bases of belonging naturalized by ethnonational affiliations. For example, in a study of Iranian gay refugees in Canada, Karimi (2018) finds that the intragroup diversity along the axis of sexuality could overshadow the effect of ethnic identity and complicate integration into the ethnoracial community. On the other hand, both Karimi’s research and other studies have provided evidence of how the LGBTQ+ communities in the host country are yet another site of discrimination and exclusion (Cantú 2009; Carrillo 2017; Manalansan 2003), limiting the opportunity to establish connections based on shared sexual identities. Building on this line of research, we provide a systematic comparison of the influence of race and ethnicity with sexuality on migrants’ friendships. Our data come from in-depth interviews with 50 skilled Chinese migrants who currently identify as LGBTQ+ and reside in the United States (n=26) and Canada (n=24). Qualitative data allow us to gain unique insights into the nuanced meaning-making processes behind boundary drawing, perceived discrimination, and identification that complement the predominantly quantitative measurements in the homophily and network literature. We used a two-by-two, gender-by-country-of-residence design using a combination of convenience and snowball sampling strategies. Interview transcripts were analyzed using retroductive coding and thematic analysis. When discussing their friendship networks, most respondents reported that their Chinese identity was more important than their sexuality, in terms of both subjective preference and actual composition. We grouped the preliminary analytical themes to understand the predominance of ethnoracial influence into intra-and inter-group dynamics. The racially homogenous friend network is primarily a result of solidifying inter-group boundaries over time. Even though many initially felt the pressure of assimilation, they gradually recognized racial stratification as a pervasive aspect of their everyday lives in North America. They also interpreted the individualist culture as reducing the need for assimilation. At the same time, intra-group preferences are strong, with many emphasizing the importance of shared language and cultural background in facilitating deeper connections. In comparison, many respondents report much more porous boundaries between heterosexual and LGBTQ+ friends. This is largely consistent with the scholarly discussion of the post-gay context that is marked by an emphasis on sameness over difference along the line of sexual orientation. Intra-community attitudes are divided. While some regard shared sexual orientation as a plus factor, others deliberately avoid extensive friendship within the LGBTQ+ community to avoid “unnecessary drama.” Our study contributes to the growing literature on friendship formation and friendship group composition among migrants in their host countries. In examining the case of queer migration, we enrich our understanding of how migrants negotiate intersectional identities and shifting bases of belonging.

This paper will be presented at the following session: