Verbal sociodiscursive representations in comments by Facebook users about identities of the LGBTQIAPN+ community

Abstract

This research aims to discuss the content of socio-discursive representations about the identities of the LGBTQIAPN+ community in comments from Facebook users. To this end, we sought to identify the types of socio-discursive reactions (Gomes, 2022) that are evidenced in the comments, verify how these reactions are structured, as well as reflect on the possible impacts of discursive constructions on the recognition of gender identities and sexual orientations. The research is based on a qualitative approach consisting of a theoretical framework about concepts relating to identities and language, in addition to documentary research, as the research corpus includes content from Facebook: the transcription of a video posted on the Quebrando O Tabu page, a text published on the DOL Online Diary page and user comments on the two posts. The data collected was analyzed from the perspective of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) proposed by Fairclough (2019). The results show occurrences of socio-discursive reaction of criticism to the acronym LGBTQIAPN+ and the modification of grammatical norms; of negative appreciation of non-binary trans identities by defining them as confusing and incomprehensible; condemning normative gender deviations; and of counter-discursive engagement by recognizing the specific nuances and needs of the LGBTQIAPN+ community.