“Of All the Continents, Asia is the Gayest”: Resisting Heteronormativity in Gaysia: Adventures in the Queer East

Abstract

This paper explores the resistance strategies employed by the queer community against the marginalization imposed by heteronormativity. It delves into the physical, psychological, moral, and economic impacts of heteronormativity on queer individuals. Employing a textual analysis approach, the study focuses on Benjamin Law’s book, Gaysia: Adventures In The Queer East, as a primary source of insight into the experiences and observations of queer individuals in Asian countries. Through the lens of queer theory, this study aims to gain a deep understanding of queer identities, power dynamics, and the transformative potential of homonormativity as a mode of resistance. Although Benjamin Law in his travelogue suggests that Asia, with its most populous countries like China, India, Indonesia, and Japan, is the gayest, the normative and rigid social setup prevalent in most Asian countries does not affirm anything beyond the heteronormative realm. Consequently, the queer community constantly conflicts with the conventional straight society. Building upon Law’s observations, this paper argues that homonormativity emerges as the counterculture embraced by the queer community to resist heteronormativity. By shedding light on the resistance strategies employed by queer individuals, specifically the adoption of homonormativity as a countercultural force, the paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the challenges and resilience within queer culture in the face of heteronormative pressures in Asia.