Negotiating Heteronormativity and Intimacy

Mixed-orientation marriages (MOMs), in which one partner identifies as lesbian, gay, or bisexual while married to an opposite-sex spouse, remain underexplored in Global South contexts. In Mauritius, where marriage remains a central socio-cultural institution embedded within religious morality, kinship obligations, and communal reputation, LGBTQ+ individuals may enter heterosexual unions due to heteronormative pressure, stigma, and fear of social exclusion. This article explores how such individuals negotiate the norms and conceal their identity by using netnography to analyze publicly accessible Mauritian online discussions relating to mixed-orientation marriages, identity concealment, marital dissatisfaction, and narratives of infidelity. Drawing on queer theory, minority stress theory, stigma theory, and relational authenticity frameworks, the study examines how structural heteronormativity shapes intimate trajectories. The findings suggest that infidelity is not framed as a consequence of sexual orientation per se, but rather as emerging from identity incongruence, emotional isolation, and the psychosocial burden of concealment. Digital spaces function as arenas of confession, resistance, and community validation. The article contributes to research on sexuality and marriage in small-island postcolonial societies and advances methodological discussions on netnography in sensitive research contexts.

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