NOT JUST (ANY) BODY CAN BE A CITIZEN: The Politics of Law, Sexuality and Postcoloniality in Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas

摘要: I am an outlaw in my country of birth: a national; but not citizen. Born Trinidad and Tobago on the cusp anti-colonial nationalist movements there, was taught that once we pledged our lives to new nation, 'every creed race [had] equal place.' believe 'Massa Day Done', there would be imminent end foreign domination. Subsequent governments have only eclipsed these promises, they revised very texms citizenship exclude me. No longer equal, can brought up charges 'serious indecency' under Sexual Offences Act 1986, if convicted, serve prison term five years. In Bahamas, found guilty crime lesbianism imprisoned for twenty United States North America where now live, must constantly keep possession immigrant (green) card given me by American state, marking 'legal' resident alien; non-national; non-citizen. If traverse any borders twenty-two states even with green hand, may conucted crimes variously defined as 'lewd unnatural; lascinous conduct; deviate sexual intercourse; gross indecency; buggery or against nature' (Robson, 1992: 58). Why has state marked inscriptions body? focused such repressive regressive gaze people like me? These are some questions seek understand this paper. wish use moment look back at reverse, subvert ultimately demystify taking apart racialized legislative gestures naturalized heterosexuality criminalizing lesbian other forms non-procreative sex. It is crucial us feminists ways which deploys power domain kinds symbolic boundaries