Controversies about immigration and naturalization have become increasingly divisive in recent years, but these debates have tended to ignore the role of sexuality in U.S. policies.  Cultural historian Siobhan Somerville traces how questions of sexuality — in combination with race — have shaped how the U.S. government has distinguished between “citizens” and “aliens.”  Somerville explores how lesbians and gay men have navigated U.S. immigration and citizenship laws, as well as how these policies have actively “queered” particular migrants, regardless of their actual sexual orientation.

Recorded as part of the Out at CHM series, discover the long and storied history of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people through Out at CHM.

Recorded Thursday, March 27, 2008 at Chicago History Museum.