Navigating Intersectionality in Transnational Social Spaces: Muslim Rainbow Migrants in Australia

This paper explores the intersectional experiences of Muslim LGBTQAI+ migrants (rainbow migrants ) in Australia, focusing on the tensions between sexuality, religion, and migration. Drawing on empirical data from the Rainbow Migrants Living Lab (RaMiLab), this study examines how Muslim migrants navigate the contrasting norms of sexual diversity and gender roles in the global North and South. While Australia offers a more tolerant environment for sexual minorities, Muslim migrants face unique challenges due to their religious and cultural backgrounds, which often uphold conservative views on sexuality and gender.

This research uncovers how these migrants negotiate their identities and relationships within both their ethnic communities and broader Australian society. Key themes include the pressures of conforming to traditional heterosexual norms in their home countries versus the more inclusive practices encountered in Australia, and how this dichotomy triggers conflict and marginalisation.

This study contributes to understanding how Muslim rainbow migrants navigate the power dynamics of both their sexual and religious identities in a predominantly secular, yet racially stratified, society. Through an intersectional lens, it examines the strategies used by these migrants to resist marginalization, build supportive networks, and advocate for social change. By focusing on an under-researched group, this paper sheds light on broader patterns of inequality, social transformation, and inclusion within the migrant LGBTQIA+ community in Australia.