Combining Photovoice and Videovoice for Participatory Research: Visual Storytelling With LGBTQ+ Refugees and Migrants

This article critically reflects on the implementation of combining photovoice and videovoice as research methods to explore the perspectives of marginalized groups in precarious situations. Specifically, we apply it to understanding the experiences of LGBTQ+ refugees and migrants in their host country of Brazil. Photovoice and videovoice allow us to move beyond words, and in utilizing a medium free from the burdens of language or literacy, LGBTQ+ refugees and migrants can present their world to the global community on their own terms, allowing for greater agency and highlighting various social identities. In the age of Instagram, LGBTQ+ refugees and migrants are already familiar with the universal reach of photos and videos, so instead of asking participants to take specific photos, we give them the tools and space to tell their stories of migration through social media trends they are already familiar with and interested in creating. We will also present the lessons learned and challenges we faced while experimenting with these methodologies.