Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
Les-Be-Queer: A Historical Exploration of Queer People at Stellenbosch University, c. 1987-2024
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
|
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867614076765470720 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Le Roux, Jesse Baronne |
| author2 | Fransch, Chet Paul James |
| author_browse | Fransch, Chet Paul James Le Roux, Jesse Baronne |
| author_facet | Fransch, Chet Paul James Le Roux, Jesse Baronne |
| author_sort | Le Roux, Jesse Baronne |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/136293 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:16.958Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/136293 Les-Be-Queer: A Historical Exploration of Queer People at Stellenbosch University, c. 1987-2024 Le Roux, Jesse Baronne Fransch, Chet Paul James Daries, Anell Stacey Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History. Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. Le Roux, J. B. 2026. Les-Be-Queer: A Historical Exploration of Queer People at Stellenbosch University, c. 1987-2024. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/d1b9a514-ebad-4a4c-a0ac-c55d318c409c Stellenbosch University (SU), historically recognized as a conservative institution, has also witnessed moments of resistance to social norms. Notably, the late 1980s witnessed a surge in student activism, primarily fuelled by the Voëlvry Movement. This activism paved the way for the establishment of queer student societies on campus, further challenging societal norms. This thesis delves into the history of institutionalized queerness at Stellenbosch through the lens of its L+ society, Les-Be-Gay, established in 1999 and now known as QueerUS. Over its 25 years of existence, the society has served as a hub for community building, activism, and navigating the complexities of visibility and exclusion on campus. Drawing from oral histories of queer students and former society members, alongside archival research, this study traces the society’s evolution from a space centred around alternative sexualities to one that embraces a broader understanding of gender identities which form part of queerness itself. Findings reveal the society’s role in fostering solidarity and raising awareness of queer issues within a challenging institutional environment. Key themes explored include the impact of religious bigotry, institutional ambivalence, and the significant struggle between visibility and invisibility which has long underscored queer experiences at SU. By situating these histories within the broader context of SU’s conservative reputation and the transformative trajectory of South Africa’s queer rights landscape, this study argues that the society’s history offers valuable insights into the interplay between institutional cultures and the lived experiences of queer people. By documenting and analysing local queer histories, this thesis underscores the importance of contributing to a comprehensive understanding of transformation at tertiary institutions in South Africa. Masters 2026-04-30T18:27:13Z 2026-04-30T18:27:13Z 2026-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/136293 en Stellenbosch University 190 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Le Roux, Jesse Baronne Les-Be-Queer: A Historical Exploration of Queer People at Stellenbosch University, c. 1987-2024 |
| title | Les-Be-Queer: A Historical Exploration of Queer People at Stellenbosch University, c. 1987-2024 |
| title_full | Les-Be-Queer: A Historical Exploration of Queer People at Stellenbosch University, c. 1987-2024 |
| title_fullStr | Les-Be-Queer: A Historical Exploration of Queer People at Stellenbosch University, c. 1987-2024 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Les-Be-Queer: A Historical Exploration of Queer People at Stellenbosch University, c. 1987-2024 |
| title_short | Les-Be-Queer: A Historical Exploration of Queer People at Stellenbosch University, c. 1987-2024 |
| title_sort | les be queer a historical exploration of queer people at stellenbosch university c 1987 2024 |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/136293 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lerouxjessebaronne lesbequeerahistoricalexplorationofqueerpeopleatstellenboschuniversityc19872024 |