(Dis)Owning Exotic: Navigating Race, Intimacy, and Trans Identity

• In Event: 1268 - Trans and Non-Binary Sexualities

Abstract

Despite societal shifts that have made the United States more inclusive, particularly among younger people, transgender people and people of color remain populations that have labels like “exotic” or “taboo” associated with them. This article explores the racialized dating experiences of an immigrant transwoman of color who uses online dating platforms to facilitate her dating life in Texas. Given that the existing literature on trans people tends to focus on identity development, health concerns, or questions of legality and policy in arenas such as the workplace and in education, there remains a dearth of research on the romantic and sexual lives of trans people. In fact, much of the research on trans relationships focuses either on couples where one partner transitioned and the couple maintained a relationship or studies that lump trans experiences in under an LGBT umbrella. Using an intersectional theoretical approach, this case-study unpacks how race, racism, and transphobia, as well as internalized racial and gender logics, work in tandem to shape desirability and date-ability.

Author

• Shantel Gabrieal Buggs, Florida State University