Calang K.Sunanta S.Mahidol University2025-07-302025-07-302025-01-01Sexuality and Culture (2025)10955143https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/111448Thailand is often celebrated as a “gay haven” in Southeast Asia, known for its visible LGBTQ+ culture and liberal gender expression. However, this perception obscures the complex and precarious realities faced by queer migrant workers. This study focuses on queer Filipino migrant workers in Bangkok and how they navigate their identities and sense of belonging. It examines the intersecting forces of sexuality, class, race, religion, nationality, and migration status that shape their lived experiences. Bridging gaps in Filipino migration studies and queer migration scholarship, this research employs an intersectional lens to critically examine how multiple social identities interact within the socio-cultural contexts of both the Philippines and Thailand. Drawing on qualitative phenomenological methods, it explores the lived and gendered experiences of queer Filipino teachers and workers through in-depth interviews. The findings reveal that while Bangkok offers relative freedom and visibility, participants continue to face structural inequalities, racialized labor hierarchies, and cultural stigmas. Participants described a “dual reality” where public spaces allowed some degree of identity expression, yet societal norms, work policies, and visa insecurities often pressured them into strategic concealment. Despite these tensions, participants cultivate resilience and community through support networks and acts of everyday resistance. This study challenges simplified narratives of LGBTQ+ inclusion in Thailand and contributes to de-centering Global North perspectives in queer migration literature. It offers insights into how migration, sexuality, and identity are dynamically reshaped across borders within Global South contexts. These insights may help inform inclusive policies, labor protections, and support services for queer migrants.Social SciencesArticleSCOPUS10.1007/s12119-025-10428-y2-s2.0-10501137508119364822