Bisexual (un)belonging: Exploring the socio-spatial negotiation of plurisexual individuals in LGBT+ and queer spaces

Bisexual and plurisexual individuals are discursively marginalised, stigmatised, and erased due to their identity position within the normative construction of sexuality and gender, leading to poor mental health and feelings of falling outside of the wider LGBT+ community. The thesis addresses the gap in the literature between sociology, sexuality scholarship, and sexual geographies by conceptualising the complex nature of plurisexual (un)belonging, engages with plurisexual socio-spatial identity negotiation, and seeks out queer sites of belonging in order to combat the discursive and epistemic disposition plurisexuals face. Plurisexual lived experiences are prioritised through a queer feminist epistemological framework, innovative artistic and visual methods, semi-structured interviews and (auto)ethnographic accounts. The research unpacks the experiences of marginalisation, gatekeeping, and unbelonging within hierarchal LGBT+ spaces, alongside the experiences of safety and belonging as produced through intersectional inclusive queer spaces. The thesis provides insight into new approaches to plurisexual theorisation and community connection by putting a spotlight onto an otherwise invisible demographic.