NAVIGATING LOVE IN CONFINEMENT: A LOVE STORY OF LGBTQIA IN PRISON
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18623/rvd.v23.4786Palabras clave:
LGBTQIA+, Prison Relationships, Resilience, Thematic Analysis, IntimacyResumen
This qualitative study explores the dynamics of romantic relationships among LGBTQIA+ individuals in prison, highlighting how love adapts and endures under conditions of separation, surveillance, and institutional constraint. Using thematic analysis, five incarcerated participants who identified as LGBTQIA+ and maintained romantic relationships were interviewed. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews, transcription, and iterative coding following Braun and Clarke’s (2006) approach. Five themes emerged: (1) Love Beyond the Walls — the role of letters, calls, and visits in sustaining relational continuity; (2) Entanglements and Unspoken Love — the weakening of outside ties and the emergence of new attachments within the facility; (3) Ghosts of the Past — resurfacing of pre-incarceration relationships complicating present attachments; (4) Silent Sacrifices and Hidden Desires — concealment of identity and unspoken affection under hypermasculine prison culture; and (5) The Plot Twist — overlapping romantic histories generating betrayal and emotional conflict. Findings reveal that while incarceration intensifies relational strain, it also fosters resilience, adaptation, and the renegotiation of intimacy. Consistent with previous scholarship, mediated communication sustained continuity (Licoppe & Smoreda, 2005), while proximity and deprivation facilitated new bonds (Jewkes, 2005). This study contributes to filling the gap in literature on LGBTQIA+ incarcerated individuals, offering implications for policies that address stigma, support psychosocial well-being, and promote inclusive correctional systems.
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