Sex: The Critical Truth - Stories of Rejection, Resistance and Self-Discovery

Sexuality. What about it matters so much? Why is it a crucial part of who we are as humans? Why are we defined by it? For this work I set about interviewing people about their sexualities, as well their ideas surrounding sexuality (i.e. heterosexual is the only acceptable sexuality). With a particular focus on non-heterosexual identities and practices, I was particularly interested in understanding the ways that people stick out from “normal” ideas of sexuality and sexual practices and how they navigated through moments of stigmatization or disapproval. The five people I interviewed and their stories make up the body of this work. For, the focus of this thesis, among others, was to empower and give voice to these five, their experiences and identities. But, this thesis also functions as a sustained critique of the way society understands and conceives of sexuality. The experiences of the five demonstrate that sexuality is a critical truth inscribed onto the human body. It acts as a powerful identifier. This Truth is then heavily controlled and regulated by society to ensure deviation from the heterosexual and exclusive path is minimized. Those who deviate from the path can either face a life of “deviance” and “abnormality” or make their own path forward. These paths though varied and unique bring liberation, resistance and self-awareness