'I take it with a grain of salt'. Queer theory elements for a sociological study of gay love

MARENTES, MAXIMILIANO

Sydney

Conferencia; Queer (Theory) Reading Group Conference: Queer Questions and Directions; 2022

In this communication, I draw in three analytical propositions from referents of queer theory to study love among gay men from a sociological approach. In taking these three components —the criticism of fixing identities, the dangers in the desexualization of sexual-dissident people, and the attempt at a concrete analysis of queer love—, I trace the reasons for a critical distance with that literature. Regarding the first topic, about not fixing identities, I explore its potential to grasp practices but making a distinction about what it does mean for queer theory authors —based on psychoanalysis—and what implies within sociological approaches —from qualitative methodologies exploring the meanings people attribute to their actions—. The second topic is based on considering valid the danger of de-sexualizing gayness. However, while queer theorists trace sexuality as the potential for antirelationality, I show how sex opens the gate for plural bonds. The third component is about the concrete analysis of queer love. Despite agreeing with queer theorists on the need of studying love based on concrete practices and situations rather than the problems of definition, I consider this claim forces us to recognize that real people are currently experiencing queer love no matter the “form” of their relationship, and couple and marriage are not necessarily heteronormative. The communication aims to examine theoretical and epistemological assumptions that structure both analyses to recognize the risks that carry on in taking with no criticism theoretical statements merged for reflecting on different objects.