A cultural citizenship lens for the cinematic representation of queer persons with physical disabilities in African films

Abstract

This study recognizes the double jeopardy African queer persons with physical disabilities face. It also recognizes that cinematic representations are paths through public imagination and through which perceptions of minorities are curated. Cinematic representations of queer persons with physical disabilities can be reconfigured to guide the public imagination toward the inclusivity of queer persons with disabilities, and to influence corresponding law and practice. On the African continent, cinematic representations of queer persons with physical disabilities are almost nonexistent, which translates into a “crisis of imagination.” Existing normative human rights frameworks as well as prevalent, beliefs, norms, and attitudes have yet to embrace the full citizenship of human rights of these minorities. This article employs the joint lens of human rights and cultural citizenship as paths through which best practices for cinematic representation of queer persons with physical disabilities can be considered. This study argues for the belonging of queer persons with physical disabilities in African cinematic representations, public imagination across African communities, as well as the broader human rights project (including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; African Commission Resolution on Protection against Violence and other Human Rights Violations against Persons on the basis of their real or imputed Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity; African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights; and Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa).