We are here,we are everywhere: Mapping global queer geographies of emotion

Abstract

This study explores global queer emotional geographies using the digital counter-mapping platform Queering the Map (QTM), which archives LGBTQ2IA+ experiences tied to physical locations. Addressing limitations of previous qualitative research, we applied quantitative sentiment analysis to user-generated content. We adopted a BERT-based neural network to assign sentiment scores to 123,209 data points collected through web scraping, and visualized the results in a Global Queer Sentiment Map. The map reveals marked regional disparities: Anglo-Saxon regions exhibit denser emotional expressions than Third World areas, while remote uninhabited locations such as the Arctic, Antarctic, and oceans still exhibit sparse emotional expressions. The integration of sentiment analysis with queer cartography offers novel insights into the global dynamics of queer emotional geographies amid digitalization and globalization.