Abstract
This study examines how users of the LGTBQ+ social app Lex describe gender and sexual identity through written language and through utilization of the app’s profile creation features. As a unique digital space that is not quite social media, and not quite a dating app, Lex presents a useful opportunity for research on the intersection of technology, writing, and the personal in a non-educational and non-professional space. Through an analysis of data included in 196 user profiles of Lex users in the Sacramento area, and an analysis of the text of 263 posts written by those users within the month of January 2022, this study posits explicit identity language as an important method of expressing gender identity and sexuality on the app. Additionally, this study explores the most common rhetorical strategies and stated or implied purposes for using the app, positioning desire for community and relationships as frequent reasons that users engage with app. Ultimately, this study seeks to enhance the inclusivity and relevance of Composition Studies to rapidly changing rhetorical contexts through a focus on marginalized identities, informal writing, and the way technology and language inform each other.