Contribution short abstract

This contribution argues that the study of ‘sexilio’ and other queer mobilities must be conceived of and oriented from the perspective of desire and longing, thus changing not only what we research and theorise about, but also how we do it in terms of epistemology and methodology.

Contribution long abstract

‘Sexilio’ has become an increasingly frequent term in Spain’s queer politics and studies, a travelling concept that is used to refer to migration linked to sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. Drawing from Manuel Guzmán’s (1997) seminal work on Puerto Rican queer men in New York City, this term has expanded in geographical contexts and theoretical scope, experiencing three decades of transformations as it has been used in cultural analyses of Latin American diasporas. More recently, this concept has morphed and adapted into the specificities of Spain’s politics, thus intersecting with preexisting frameworks focused on rural flight and territorial inequalities faced by left-behind places.

This contribution draws from both theoretical and empirical work on ‘sexilio’ in Spain to argue for the need to incorporate longing and desire in its discussions and research. Whereas most existing studies have focused on actually existing migratory pathways, this contribution posits that ‘sexilio’, as any form of mobility, must be understood from the perspective of desire, longing, and the assessment and comparison of places, communities, and life projects. Besides incorporating desire and longing into the concept of ‘sexilio’ per se, this contribution focuses on the impact and relevance of this shift in terms of epistemology and methodology. How do we research mobilities while focusing on desire? How do we intertwine the longing for alternatives while considering the actual changes and trajectories? How do we expand the study of ‘sexilio’ without losing sight of the actual lives and experiences of its protagonists?