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Queer Quarantine: Conceptualizing State and Dominant Cultural Responses to Queer Threats As Discursive Tactics and Technologies of Quarantine

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Queer Quarantine: Conceptualizing State and Dominant Cultural Responses to Queer Threats As Discursive Tactics and Technologies of Quarantine Queer Quarantine: Conceptualizing State and Dominant Cultural Responses to Queer Threats as Discursive Tactics and Technologies of Quarantine by Péter Balogh A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Canadian Studies Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario © 2015 Péter Balogh Abstract This study explores queer quarantine, my conceptualization of processes and practices aimed at assessing, diagnosing and isolating queer threats to the nation. In theorizing queer quarantine, I draw upon the longstanding conflation of queerness with disease and contagion, and build a case for reading the isolation, containment and casting out of queerness as an assemblage of discursive tactics and technologies aimed at quarantining queers beyond conventional understandings of quarantine. I examine the ways queers are imagined to threaten public space, healthy bodies, and the future of the nation, and provide a new accounting for so-called homophobic policies and practices deployed in statecraft and dominant culture. I also trace the emergence of the queer AIDS monster, an effect of disciplinary tactics of queer quarantine and a particular discursive formation in its own right. My study has two aims: building a case for queer quarantine and, at the same time, demonstrating how queer quarantine can be used as a new model of analysis to identify and explore some of the ways the Canadian state and dominant culture continue to marginalize and oppress queers despite the rights gains and “acceptance” that some gays and lesbians have achieved. My analysis reveals that in 1970s Toronto, the rapidly increasing visibility of queerness became a public threat necessitating tactical responses from local authorities and the police to quarantine queer spaces. The advent of AIDS saw a new and heightened level of surveillance directed nationwide onto queer bodies by medical and legal authorities, with the development of new tactics and technologies of queer quarantine to protect against multiplying threats of queer contagion. Increased state obsession with ii national security in the era of homonationalism sees a renewed focus on queer threats to the nation’s future, for example, via children and the national blood supply. This interdisciplinary study weaves together concepts and theories from cultural studies, history, sociology, queer theory, feminist theory, contagion studies, epidemiology, and applied linguistics, resulting in a multi-scalar analysis of the ways that queer quarantine can be employed to provide new readings of state and dominant cultural responses to queer threats over a forty-year period. iii Acknowledgements Writing a dissertation takes massive amounts of time and effort. During the long periods of research, writing, rewriting, revising and editing, I worked mainly alone, often feeling quite isolated. Along the way, however, I have been constantly reminded that we do not succeed alone. A wonderful group of helping hands, minds and hearts has nurtured and supported my work. I wish to acknowledge some of that support here. First, I would like to thank my dissertation committee for their guidance in helping me bring this project to fruition. My thesis supervisor, Patrizia Gentile, is an inspirational scholar, a strong leader and a caring friend. Pat’s unwavering support and belief in my project emboldened me to reach higher and to accomplish more. Even when I felt a little lost, I knew I was in safe hands. Pauline Rankin has been an invaluable ally throughout this project and has been key to its success. Insightful and enthusiastic, she has helped shape my academic career. From our first meeting, Pauline made me feel accepted and valued as a scholar, as well as an individual. Despite a hectic schedule, Pauline always made time to listen to my ideas and concerns and to provide thoughtful and encouraging advice. Momin Rahman graciously took on the role of external reader and I am grateful for his dedication. My writing has benefitted through Momin’s encouragement and his ability to pose questions in ways that incite me to refine my thinking. I also thank my internal examiner, Paul Mkandawire for his encouragement and ideas for future research, and my external examiner, Michael Orsini, for his enthusiastic support of my project and his insightful questions and advice. I also wish to acknowledge the important financial support that helped me to complete this project. Accordingly, I thank the Social Sciences and Humanities Research iv Council, the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, as well as Carleton University for the generous financial awards they made towards this study. I am grateful for the many opportunities I have had to exchange ideas with faculty, colleagues, and friends, including Peter Hodgins, Eva Mackey, Anne Trépanier, Brian Johnson, and Judy Meltzer. I offer a note of special thanks to Jeff Ruhl for inspiring discussions and pep talks over many cups of tea and thought-provoking walks. I sincerely thank Lori Dearman at the School of Canadian Studies for friendly and expert guidance through many administrative processes. Thanks also to Cathy Schmueck for superior program support. I would also like to express my gratitude to the staff at the Canadian AIDS Society, especially to Bernice Aye, for their generous on-site assistance with the early research phase of my project. I am also grateful to my students, current and past, who continue to inspire me and remind me why I chose to return to academia. My dear friend Catherine Jenkins has provided inspiration, advice and comfort throughout half of my life. Thank you for having faith in me through all these years. It is now a special honour and a treat to be completing our PhDs at the same time. I wish you much abundance, love and light. Guy Boyd, friend and long distance running mentor, has endured hundreds of miles of discussion about performativity, discourse, contagion and quarantine, continually helping me to refine my thinking and acquire new insights. I am grateful for your multi-dimensional friendship. Stephen Dow and Emanuel Melo, thank you for your presence in my life, your love and support. My 12-year-old canine companion, LiLi, who enforced routine walks and playtimes during my MA, continued to do so diligently throughout this long process. Through her loyalty and graceful dogness, she brought me so many wonderful moments v of peace and joy and taught me many significant life lessons, including how to let go. Sadly, LiLi was diagnosed with cancer three weeks before my thesis defense. A mere 12 hours following the successful defense, LiLi died naturally, wrapped tightly in my arms, as I sang a favourite Ganesha mantra to her. I miss you dearly, LiLi Billy. My parents might have had concerns early on about my late return to academia mid-way through a successful career in government, yet they never doubted that I could do what I set out to do. Unfortunately, my Father did not live to see me finish, but he would be very pleased to see that it is all worth the sacrifices I made. My strongest ally and biggest supporter is without a doubt my Mum. Among the many things she has taught me is the importance of self-discipline and tenacity, which I try to apply each day. Mum, I am most grateful for your unconditional love and support, your faith in my abilities, and your trust that I will find my way. I dedicate this work to you. Finally, the inestimable teachings of Siva Yogaswami, Sivaya Subramuniyaswami and Satguru Bodhinatha Velanswami sustain and inspire me daily. I am forever indebted to the Nandinatha Sampradaya Kailasa Parampara and the Himalayan Academy in Kauai, Hawaii for helping me glimpse the light and equipping me with the tools for the journey ahead. Aum Namah Sivaya. vi Table of Contents Abstract ii Acknowledgements iv List of Acronyms and Abbreviations Used in this Study x Chapter 1: Queer Quarantine 1 A Disease From Other Countries 1 Queer Quarantine 6 Quarantine Talk 11 Theoretical Framework 16 Sex Panics 21 Queers as Sick 24 Approach and Strategies 31 Structure of Archives and Definition of Official and Unofficial Discourse 39 Privileging Texts and Reification 42 Interrogating Gender, Race and Sexual Identities 44 Chapter Summary 48 Chapter 2: Queer Contagion 53 A Brief History of Quarantine 53 Origins of Quarantine 54 Quarantine in North America 59 Quarantine and Race 61 Quarantine Applications in Canada 63 Canadian Quarantine Historiography 65 The End of Epidemics and Quarantine? 69 Quarantining AIDS and Queers 71 Queer as Contagion 73 Invention of Child Molesters 76 Queer Child Molesters 79 The Queer AIDS Monster 83 From Queer Cartography to Queer Quarantine 88 Chapter 3: Spaces 94 Putting Queer Space into Discourse: Our First Win? 102 Ontario Human Rights Commission 105 Early Toronto Gay Community 106 Sex and the City: A Deadly Invasion 108 Sex is “Killing Yonge St.” 111 The Kirkland Deasley Murder 114 The Yonge Street Cleanup 117 vii The Queer Sex Panic 119 Queer Child Molesters/Monsters 124 The Barracks Raid: “Making Gay Sex Dirty” 128 The Toronto Gay Bathhouse Raids of February 1981 133 Queer Space and Disease 141 The Bruner Report: “Out of the Closet” 142 Bruner’s Gay Topos 147 Bruner and Queer Child Molesters 149 Chapter 4: Bodies 154 Putting AIDS into Discourse: Blame it on the Gays 162 Patient Zero, Queer AIDS Monster Made in the USA 164 Queers as Always Already Infected 168 AIDS Policy-Making: Constructing Queers 171 House
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