Episode 8: For the Record…

Queering Premodern Asia is a limited series and the 5th season of the Nuances podcast about Our Asian Stories. Each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary from guest scholars. Episodes are divided into a narrative portion, and a discussion with a guest co-host from the queer Asian community.

Ep. 8: For the Record

Introduction & content warnings
We were here
Other sources than official records
Power in numbers
Who’s missing?
Official vs unofficial stance on queerness
Court documents
Decolonizing history
Porn, erotic art
Conclusion
Discussion with co-host Dr. Izat El Amoor
Outro

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References:

Arondekar, Anjali R. Abundance: Sexuality’s History. Duke University Press, 2023.

Arondekar, Anjali R. For the Record. Duke University Press, 2009.

Schmidt-Hori, Sachi. Tales of Idolized Boys: Male-Male Love in Medieval Japanese Buddhist Narratives. University of Hawaii Press, 2021.

Wu, Cuncun. Homoerotic Sensibilities in Late Imperial China. Routledge, 2004.

Atshan, Sa’ed. Queer Palestine and the Empire of Critique. Stanford University Press, 2020. Bookstore.org

GLAAD Media Institute, 2024, Accelerating Acceptance 2024.

List of jurisdictions banning conversion therapy

Trans Legislation tracker

Pham, Tiet Khanh “Collection and Recognition of Folk Riddles of Khmer Culture in Vietnam.” International Research Journal, no. 8(110), Aug. 2021. doi: 10.23670/IRJ.2021.110.8.001.

Khuá̂t, Thu Hò̂ng, and Vietnam Population Council. Study on Sexuality in Vietnam : The Known and Unknown Issues. Population Council, 1998. Accessed 7 July 2024.

Additional resources

Chinese classic novels:
Story of Stone / Dream of the Red Chamber
Jin Ping Mei / Plum in the Golden Vase / The Golden Lotus

Official histories:
Samguk Yusa (Korea)
Veritable records of the Joseon Dynasty (Korea)
Great Annals of the Dai Viet (Vietnam)
24 Histories (China)

Classical Arabic poets/writers whose work included reference to queerness:
Abu Nawas (c. 756 – c. 814)
Ibn Abi El Baghel (1331-1390)
Yazid Bin Moa’wiyah (c. 646 – 683)
El Khalifa El Amin

Queer Palestinian organizations;
AlQaws
Aswat

Pro LGBTQIA+ Arab celebrities
Elissa
Jad Schweiri
Carole Samaha
Cyrine Abd Elnour
Maya Diab

Other initiatives:
The Queer Arab Glossary – Marwan Qaabour Saqi | Bookstore.org
This Arab is Queer – Elias Jahshan Saqi | Bookstore.org
Tarweha, Tarweha 2 by alQaws – Comic books
Abdellah Taïa – queer Moroccan writer & filmmaker
Bareed Mista’ajal

Guest scholars:

Sachi Schmidt-Hori, professor of Japanese literature & culture at Dartmouth College.
Wu CunCun, ⁠⁠professor of Chinese literature at the University of Hong Kong⁠⁠.
Anjali Arondekar, professor of feminist studies & South Asian studies at the University of California Santa Cruz.
Niloofar Rasooli, doctoral fellow at the Swiss Institute of Technology

Guest co-host bio:

Guest co-host bio

Izat El Amoor is an assistant professor of sociology, public scholar, and a queer Palestinian (citizen of Israel). He studies queer issues in Palestine with a focus on education, family life, and the Palestinian Queer Movement. He also studies queer life in the SWANA Region with a focus on political and cultural factors of mobilizing for towards queer change since the Arab uprisings erupted in 2011.
Instagram

Queer Palestinian lives matter… Sarit Ahmad’s death must count