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Mutinous Eruptions: Autonomous Spaces of Radical Queer Activism

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  • Gavin Brown

    (Department of Geography, Bennett Building, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, England)

Abstract

This paper offers a reflexive ethnography of a set of queer autonomous spaces created in London over the last five years. It traces the political genealogies of a recent strand of radical queer activism that is broadly aligned with the anarchist and anticapitalist wings of the global justice movement. In line with the usage of the term ‘queer’ by these activists themselves, to refer to a variety of states of being that challenge both homonormativity and heteronormativity, this paper utilises a definition of ‘queer’ that moves beyond the ways in which it has been mobilised by many sexual geographers. The ethnography poses questions about the ‘queer’ in ‘queer geography’ and what it means to be an ‘activist’. This work considers the importance (as well as the limits) of these autonomous queer spaces. It suggests that the process of collective experimentation to build autonomous queer spaces is ultimately more transformative and empowering than the resulting structures.

Suggested Citation

  • Gavin Brown, 2007. "Mutinous Eruptions: Autonomous Spaces of Radical Queer Activism," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 39(11), pages 2685-2698, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:39:y:2007:i:11:p:2685-2698
    DOI: 10.1068/a38385
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bettina Köhler & Markus Wissen, 2003. "Glocalizing protest: urban conflicts and the global social movements," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(4), pages 942-951, December.
    2. Loretta Lees, 2003. "The ambivalence of diversity and the politics of urban renaissance: the case of youth in downtown Portland, Maine," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(3), pages 613-634, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. John Nagle, 2022. "‘Where the state freaks out’: Gentrification, Queerspaces and activism in postwar Beirut," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 59(5), pages 956-973, April.
    2. Rae Daniel Rosenberg, 2021. "Negotiating racialised (un)belonging: Black LGBTQ resistance in Toronto’s gay village," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(7), pages 1397-1413, May.
    3. Gavin Brown, 2009. "Thinking beyond Homonormativity: Performative Explorations of Diverse Gay Economies," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 41(6), pages 1496-1510, June.
    4. Larry Knopp & Michael Brown, 2021. "Travel guides, urban spatial imaginaries and LGBTQ+ activism: The case of Damron guides," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(7), pages 1380-1396, May.
    5. Alison L Bain & Julie A Podmore, 2021. "Relocating queer: Comparing suburban LGBTQ2S activisms on Vancouver’s periphery," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(7), pages 1500-1519, May.
    6. Elizabeth Currans, 2021. "‘Creating the community I want to be part of’: Affinity-based organising in a small, progressive rustbelt city," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(7), pages 1484-1499, May.
    7. John Horton & Peter Kraftl, 2009. "What (Else) Matters? Policy Contexts, Emotional Geographies," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 41(12), pages 2984-3002, December.
    8. Gilly Hartal & Chen Misgav, 2021. "Queer urban trauma and its spatial politics: A lesson from social movements in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(7), pages 1463-1483, May.
    9. Alison L Bain & Julie A Podmore, 2021. "Placing LGBTQ+ urban activisms," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(7), pages 1305-1326, May.
    10. Lynda Johnston & Gordon Waitt, 2021. "Play, protest and pride: Un/happy queers of Proud to Play in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(7), pages 1431-1447, May.
    11. Xin Pan & Maarten Loopmans, 2021. "Intersectional Heterotopia: HIV and LGBTQ+ Movement in China," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 112(2), pages 121-134, April.

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