Andrew Thomas Wortham

Andrew T. Wortham is an applied anthropologist who researches HIV/AID prevention organizations and LGBT politicking in Yunnan, China.  His work theorizes the concept of ‘collusion’ as a political tactic in China which allows LGBT organizers to use demands for HIV testing quotas as a way to develop critical working relationships and resources from the state. This research has been published in the journals of Medical Anthropology and the Journal of Contemporary China, and is further developed in his book project, Queer Collusion: HIV Quotas and LGBT Politics in Yunnan, China.  Andrew’s other research has touched on the use of play as a tactic for gay men to navigate political, medical and social constraints and HIV/AIDS education programs in Yunnan.  Andrew received his PhD from Columbia University in 2021 and has worked with Teach for China, Kunming University of Science and Technology, University of Nottingham Ningbo and NYU Shanghai.

Select Publications

• Andrew T. Wortham (2023) Collusive Infrapolitics: The Hidden Gay Worlds of HIV Community Based Organizations in Kunming, China, Journal of Contemporary China, DOI: 10.1080/10670564.2023.2223152
• Andrew T. Wortham (2023) “Watering-Down” Strict HIV Testing Quotas on Chinese Men Who Have Sex with Men Community-Based Organizations, Medical Anthropology, DOI: 10.1080/01459740.2023.2244650
• Andrew Thomas Wortham (2023) Inside the circle: queer culture and activism in northwest China, Asian Studies Review, DOI: 10.1080/10357823.2023.2246692

Research Interests

• China
• Medical Anthropology
• Political Anthropology
• HIV Testing
• LGBT Politics
• Ethnomethodology
• Play