Marriage, Migration and Sexuality: African Migrants in Interracial Same-sex Partnerships

In an interconnected world, the introduction of same-sex marriage in many countries has also affected the lives of LGBTI persons outside their territories, even where homosexuality is illegal. Marrying a (same-sex) citizen of these countries entails family migration rights for the non-citizen spouse.

The project Marriage, Migration and Sexuality: African Migrants in Interracial Same-sex Partnerships (MARMIGSEX) investigates how same-sex marriage became a new (formal) migration channel for queer Africans and particularly examines same-sex marriage migration from sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya, Ghana) to countries of the Global North (USA, Netherlands).

MARMIGSEX is an interdisciplinary research project that offers a novel approach to the study of marriage migration, transnationalism and interracial relations.

First, it overcomes the heterosexual bias in the study of marriage migration and focuses on the international mobility of Africans through same-sex marriage.

It examines the mobility options and paths of cross-border same-sex couples and whether and how they managed to live together before and after the introduction of same-sex marriage.

Second, the project breaks from the convention of limiting study to the perspective of migrant destination countries, by emphasizing the perspective of origin countries.

It explores whether and how same-sex marriage migration enables African men and women to achieve social mobility and gain appreciation and respect in Africa.

Third, it questions the assumption in migrant assimilation theory that “mixed couples” are indicators of integration and a proof that ethnic and racial boundaries become less important (at least for the partners in these relationships).

Hence it investigates the process of racialization of African migrants’ sexuality and how racialized sexuality becomes a resource of exchange value for African men and women.