New Publication: “Beyond homonormativity versus anti-normativity: Recognising transformative practices of rainbow families in rural alpine Switzerland”
Rainbow families are often framed through an urban, Western-centric lens—either as symbols of progress or as outliers in spaces presumed to be inhospitable. But what happens when we listen to LGBTQ+ parents in rural areas?
Our research, conducted in collaboration with Swiss rainbow families in the Alpine canton of Valais, challenges dominant narratives of homonormativity and anti-normativity. Instead of fitting neatly into categories of assimilation or resistance, these families engage in everyday acts of change. They navigate ambivalent village spaces, finding both safety and surveillance, invisibility and hostile visibility, while carving out new possibilities for belonging.
Their lived experiences show that transformative politics don’t just happen in city centers or through subcultural politics. The families in our study create change through engaging teachers, discussing, complaining, insisting and seeking regional platforms to speak about their experiences.
What does this mean for how we study and support LGBTQ+ communities beyond metropolitan centres?