Paper long abstract:

This paper presents a study in progress conducted by LGBTQ people in Bishkek seeking self-knowledge regarding their sexual lives, bodies and relationships. While aiming at a very practical goal of creating accessible and adequate queer sex education materials by the community for the community, this project also seeks to empower people to become the scholars and bards of their own lives, to write their own history and valorise local queer culture. The paper investigates the merits and challenges of conducting participatory action studies, problematises researcher positionality and poses ethical questions with regard to such a study.