Binary Scripting, Disclosure Decisions, and Agency in Families of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Youth in Mozambique

This paper examines how family dynamics and normative role expectations inform disclosure decisions of young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people within a changed legal context, drawing on semi-structured, biographical narrative interviews and focus groups involving 116 LGBTI youth (16-24 years) who were enrolled through a network-based recruitment method in three Provincial capitals. We conducted a thematic analysis with data from digitally recorded interviews transcribed verbatim. Conformity to heteronormative sexuality formed an important part of childhood socialization, and deviance became a growing source of parental-child conflict during puberty. Secrecy, which was commonplace among participants, was a critical strategy to protect against deteriorating family relationships, and financial hardship. Mediation by family elders helped restore communications post-disclosure, and positively influenced the parental role in protecting the child against discriminatory practices. Tension between the legal and social normative framework demonstrates that liberalizing contentious rights in law cannot be transformative without social change strategies. The government has to ensure access and investment in educational interventions that foster critical consciousness on gender and sexuality in family, and other socializing agents such as schools, with a view to addressing a key driver of discrimination against LGBTI people in Mozambique and promoting their social inclusion.

Automated summary

This paper examines how family dynamics and normative role expectations influence disclosure decisions of LGBTI youth, highlighting the importance of conforming to heteronormative norms and maintaining secrecy to protect family relationships. Mediation by family elders positively impacts communication and protects against discrimination.