Abstract
This article seeks to trouble distinctions between activism and
tourism, and activism and regionality. It does this by exploring the
role of tourism, mobilities and emotion for a regional Australian
queer collective, and their 1400 km return journey to the Sydney
Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. In illustrating the ways this
touristic journey represents alternative ways of performing queer
activism, I argue that the existence of regional activism deconstructs
notions that non-normative sexualities and queer politics do not exist
beyond urban centres. Granting attention to the alternative ways the
queer collective utilises tourism mobilities as part of their activism
strengthens characterisations of leisure as always more than a space
of hedonism and escape. Understanding the broader significance
of events enables scholars to rethink festivals as spatially and
temporally bounded, one off events but rather crucial to the ongoing
sustainability of regional queer collectives and performances of queer
activism in peripheral areas.
tourism, and activism and regionality. It does this by exploring the
role of tourism, mobilities and emotion for a regional Australian
queer collective, and their 1400 km return journey to the Sydney
Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. In illustrating the ways this
touristic journey represents alternative ways of performing queer
activism, I argue that the existence of regional activism deconstructs
notions that non-normative sexualities and queer politics do not exist
beyond urban centres. Granting attention to the alternative ways the
queer collective utilises tourism mobilities as part of their activism
strengthens characterisations of leisure as always more than a space
of hedonism and escape. Understanding the broader significance
of events enables scholars to rethink festivals as spatially and
temporally bounded, one off events but rather crucial to the ongoing
sustainability of regional queer collectives and performances of queer
activism in peripheral areas.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 851-868 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | Social & Cultural Geography |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 3 Oct 2016 |