Ascertaining the concept of “Fluidity” in sexual and gender identity and orientation: a critical analysis of crossing and call me by your name

Abstract

The LGBTQ community has been marginalized and discriminated against from the very beginning of its origin and is considered a sexual minority. Although they all belong to the same community, their experiences, struggles, traumas, and observations are different from each other. LGBT was more of an individualistic term until queer identity emerged and pioneered a new way to be sexual and gender fluid. However, the path was still not flexible for LGBT people, and several movements were taking place to claim equal rights and recognition in society. There was always a concept of gender hierarchy and competition between heterosexuals and the LGBTQ community that created polarization in their relationship. It created an unavoidable and unacceptable environment for LGBTQ people in society and forced them to challenge conventional sexual and gender ideologies. The 21st century was the time when the fluid term "queer" came into the limelight and asserted the fluidity of sexual and gender orientation. Queer orientation is a different ideology and identity that promotes fluidity in sexual and gender orientation; it is the individualistic choice of a human being. This paper aims to demonstrate and explore the struggle and oppressive journey of LGBTQ people, as well as how they achieve recognition, by establishing the concept of gender and sexual orientation fluidity. To demonstrate their situation and prove the content, I have used two novels: Call Me by Your Name by Andre Acimen and Crossing by Pajtim Statovci. These novels will help the paper depict the reality of the homophobic and homonegative condition of LGBTQ people.