Sexuality fluidity in Thailand: free association narratives among LGBTQ+ individuals

Sexuality fluidity is shaped by individual processes and cultural values and might thus be perceived and experienced differently across different sociocultural contexts. This qualitative study explored how sexuality fluidity was understood and experienced by Thai LGBTQ+ individuals. Using free association narrative interviews with 14 participants and reflexive thematic analysis, the findings show that sexuality fluidity in Thailand emerges as a relational and future-oriented process. Participants' experiences highlight a process of dual validation, involving exploration, self-acceptance, and recognition by others. Fluidity is also embedded within narratives shaped by cis-heteronormativity, homophobic discourses, and familial expectations, where possibilities for change were negotiated in relation to dominant ideals of marriage. Among participants in this study, rather than reflecting instability, fluidity functions as a culturally pragmatic strategy that balances personal authenticity with social harmony. Overall, the findings suggest that sexuality fluidity in the Thai context operates at the intersection of self-understanding, relational negotiation, and future-oriented adaptation.