Queering Chinese in Africa: The Unintended Sexual Migration of Chinese Gay Men

Chinese migration to Africa has long been presumed to be predominantly of males and heterosexuals, rendering queer experiences largely invisible. Addressing this empirical and analytical gap, this essay examines the trajectories of Chinese gay men who have migrated to or lived in Africa. The life stories of Shuai, Félix, and Brother Li—men with distinct routes across multiple African countries—highlight their varied aspirations and experiences. Their pathways can be described as ‘unintended sexual migration’, wherein sexuality plays little role in their initial decision to migrate but becomes deeply entangled in their journeys, enabling constrained yet meaningful sexual mobility. These untold stories suggest that Global China can be queer and queered.