MOBILIZING ACROSS THE RAINBOW A geographical study of LGBTQIA+ organizations in Singapore and their potential for socio-political change

Abstract

With the rise of intelligent cities, urban social relations have become increasingly complex where communication technologies expand the possibilities for civic engagement and political movements. This thesis draws together various strands of work from urban studies to illustrate the geographies and spatialities of social relations, focusing on the potential of cities to facilitate public participation. I argue that the mobility from communication technologies empowers LGBTQIA+ actors, in expanding capability for social and political action. I utilize the concept of mobile publics to conceptualize how engagement in the public sphere and the city has become de-territorialized and fluid through the use of communication technologies. My thesis explores the applicability of this theoretical concept through an empirical case study of LGBTQIA+ organizations in Singapore. I employ a feminist methodological approach in my research to understand and situate issues of power, discrimination, discourse and representation that LGBTQIA+s in Singapore face. This thesis uses primary data from interviews of members from LGBTQIA+ organizations and secondary data from organizations’ virtual platforms and news articles. First, I examine how virtual platforms provide alternative space and practices for individuals to self-mobilize and assemble as larger collectives through LBGTQIA+ organizations. Second, I study the significance of LGBTQIA+ organizations’ virtual media strategies in developing support systems as part of community building and mobilizing civil society within Singapore. Third, I investigate the role of transnational activism in facilitating mobilization of publics within and beyond Singapore for emancipatory change. This thesis contributes to existing literature in two ways. First, it evaluates the applicability of the theoretical concept of mobile publics through the case study of LGBTQIA+ in Singapore. Secondly, it shows how space continues to play a pivotal role in social movement mobilization and make the case for using a gel to conceptualize the fluid and dynamic nature of socio-spatial interactions.