Det urbana landskapet genom Malmös HBTQ-populations ögon

Sammanfattning: It is well known how important belonging and to be part of something is for us humans and our well-being. Other utterly important foundations for us and our sense of freedom are safety and accessibility. LGBT-research has profoundly been conducted on larger cities, but lacking substratum on how mentioned factors affect people living in smaller cities. In this paper, I try through interviews understand how the LGBT-community of Malmö (Sweden’s third city) understands and experience their daily life, and how- and if- their sexuality influence movements in space throughout the city. Thus, the aim of the study is to broaden the LGBT-research by looking into a smaller city, but also question whether there need to be a better urban planning for this group in the city. The studies theoretical framework focusing on dualism, intersectionality- and performativity, together with teories from Pierre Bourdieu, Michel Foucault, Judith Butler and Kevin Lynch. The study finds that a large part of Malmös LGBT-community is facing resistance in their daily life, both socially and spatially. The intensity of resistance towards people seems to be individually and are based on complex intersectional layers. The data implement that control is established foremost via socially appropriated spaces when someone from the LGBT-community entering the room with other behaviours, looks or attributes outside the heterosexual norm. Altogether, it seems to be a balancing whether it is ok to go outside heteronormativity, where time and place-bounds are of importance. How you as a LGBT-person is treated in Malmö seems according to empirics have to do with where in the city you are, who you are (which identity you represent), and who is with you at that place at the same time. In that sense, the so important three pillars of belonging, safety and accessibility are fluid and bound to situations in Malmö.