Identity and the Socio-Cultural Values of Queer Clubbing Scenes The Perspective of Clubbers

Queer clubbing scenes do not cease to grow in popularity. Queer clubbing events now attract a highly diversified crowd of clubbers willing to taste the assumed freedom and safety of those events. Nevertheless, previous studies have taken limited account of the socio-cultural values of queer clubbing scenes and their contribution to the identity construction of their participants. Since the origins of club culture are closely connected to the history of the queer community, it is assumed that clubbing plays a crucial role in the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals. Yet, more recent academic accounts highlighted that queer clubbing events are increasingly opening their doors to ‘non-queer’ individuals. Hence, the socio-cultural values of queer clubbing scenes have the potential to influence the identity construction of queer as well as non-queer individuals sharing their dancefloors. Therefore, this research aims to explore how ‘queer’ as well as ‘non-queer’ clubbers construct the socio-cultural values of queer clubbing scenes and the impact those values have on their identity construction. 12 qualitative interviews were conducted with a diversified sample of clubbers frequenting Rotterdam’s queer clubbing scene. The data collected from the interviews show that Rotterdam’s queer clubbing scene play various socio-cultural roles in the lives of clubbers. Namely, Rotterdam’s queer clubbing scene acts as a refuge, a nest, a bubble, and a laboratory for the respondent. Besides, queer dancefloors were characterized as a safe space of expression with strong historical values. Results show that Rotterdam’s queer clubbing scene holds mutually constitutive socio-cultural values for queer and nonqueer clubbers. Finally, the analysis of the data collected from the interview shows that queer clubbing scenes play a crucial role in the expression of the respondents’ identity rather than its entire process of construction. Therefore, more research is required to understand the need of contemporary society subjects for a safe space of expression.