Intersectional Narratives of Migration and Queer Sexuality: A Look into the (Autobiographical) Writings of Ocean Vuong, Saif ur Rehman Raja and Jean-Baptiste Phou

Migration narratives offer a space for their authors to explore complex identities, intertwining cultural belonging, race and sexuality, and serve as a bridge between cultures. This paper analyses three autobiographical texts – On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, Hijra by Saif ur Rehman Raja and La Peau hors du placard by Jean-Baptiste Phou – and tries to highlight common patterns of interplay at the intersection of migration and queer experience. Vuong keeps a link to Vietnam marked by family trauma; Raja experiences a double belonging to Pakistan and Italy; Phou rediscovers his connection to Cambodia as an adult while reflect- ing on Asian masculinity. Shared themes are multilingualism, racism and homophobia, but also family tensions, which emerge especially during the protagonists’ coming out. Their sexual awakening is also marked by vulnerability and violence, thus revealing the intersectional challenges faced by queer and diasporic individuals.