Journal of Language and Sexuality - Online First

This study examines how certain U.S. gay men, who identify as fans of female vocalists, engage with the feminist ideologies found in pop diva culture and with the gay male stereotype of diva-worship. Previous studies investigated how the discourses of female empowerment are formulated in divas’ song lyrics. However, little empirical literature on gay men’s perceptions toward divas’ lyrics and personae has been explored. To bridge this gap, my research utilizes the tools of critical discourse analysis in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Interviews were recorded from 21 gay male participants who were categorized into three age groups — 25–34, 35–45, and 45+. The data were then transcribed and uploaded to the software MAXQDA for coding. Using a combination of discourse analysis approaches, gay male subjectivity, and post-feminism, data were compared to formulate conceptual themes. The findings suggest that certain gay men deploy the discourse of diva-worshipping to move beyond a generalized fandom conversation to engage with the discussions of U.S. gender politics. The findings also indicated insightful ways of how these gay men came to their novel understandings of womanhood through the diva-worship practice while also seeking meaningful and self-empowering ways to identify with their divas and what they represent.

Language representing diverse sexual orientations and gender identities has evolved rapidly over recent decades, with many gay/lesbian organizations rebranding as LGBT+ or queer groups. This study presents the first corpus-assisted critical discourse analysis of a major LGBT+ organization’s discourse. It examines how COC Netherlands, the world’s oldest continuing organization, negotiated inclusivity in its annual reports (2008–2023). Word frequencies, keyness, collocation and concordance analyses reveal uneven progress. LGBTI+ has replaced GLBT/LGBT, derogatory terms (e.g., transsexuality) disappeared and transgender and intersex identities gained visibility. Yet hierarchies persist: bisexual and lesbian identities remain marginalized, homo and gay continue as shorthand for the LGBT+ community and the plus sign lacks substantive content. The prevalence of an acronym (consecutively LGBT, LGBTI and LGBTI+) over specific identities highlights ongoing tensions between projecting unity and movement-internal diversity. These findings advance queer linguistics by showing how language both reflects and shapes inclusion, exclusion and social-movement internal hierarchies.