Between Morocco and the mainland: The lesbian, gay and bisexual communities of Spanish Ceuta.

This article provides the first comprehensive empirical study of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) communities residing in Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city located in North Africa. It examines how Ceuta's interstitial character—its geographic separation from mainland Spain, cultural and religious diversity, and contested political status at the crossroads of Europe and North Africa—shapes the daily experiences of its LGB residents, particularly regarding perceptions of safety, anonymity, homophobia, public displays of affection, and migratory intentions. The research highlights intersecting minority stresses influenced by social conservatism, segregation between Spanish/Christian and Moroccan/Muslim populations, and the rise of far-right politics, which collectively impact LGB individuals' well-being and contribute to a prevalent desire among many to migrate to larger, more anonymous urban centers on mainland Spain. The study also problematizes narratives that attribute homophobia primarily to the Muslim community, emphasizing the complex colonial and socio-political dynamics that affect LGBTQ+ life in Ceuta's unique peripheral and interstitial context.