LGBTQ+ Topographies: An Analysis of Socio-Spatial Interactions by Mapping of Social Media in São Paulo and Berlin

From an historical point of view, cities display recognizable LGBTQ+ interactions with urban spaces. Nowadays, these interactions represent physical (visible) and virtual (invisible) boundaries or territories for the community; a place where they feel safe or can freely enjoy urban life. This study explores the mapping of socio-spatial interactions through social media of LGBTQ+ community and proposes a comparison between two big cities: São Paulo in Brazil and Berlin in Germany. It draws the notions of virtual and real presence of individuals by identifying a specific set of keywords related to the LGBTQ+ community. The findings suggest that the virtual (invisible) and real (visible) spaces occupied by the community are dissonant in Berlin and consonant in São Paulo, however, an overlap space emerges at certain areas manifesting LGBTQ+ places. These might be caused by ephemeral events that take place in the analyzed cities throughout the year. The study is limited by three issues affecting such analysis: ambiguity of search keywords, reduced geolocated interactions and expressivity of results. Alternatively, it creates a research base of identified trends and the definition of search expressions; lastly, it discusses the image of LGBTQ+ spaces. The study also reveals that mapping LGBTQ+ topographies through social media supports the understanding of diversity and temporality in cities, clarifying unmeasurable spatial processes and structures. (Note: A version of this abstract was originally published at the 2019 EGSC Conference).