LGBT Activism and the Making of Europe: A Rainbow Europe? (Gender and Politics)

This timely new series publishes leading monographs and edited collections from scholars working in the disciplinary areas of politics, international relations and public policy with specific reference to questions of gender. The series showcases cutting-edge research in Gender and Politics, publishing topical and innovative approaches to gender politics. It will include exciting work from new authors and well-known academics and will also publish high-impact writings by practitioners working in issues relating to gender and politics. The series covers politics, international relations and public policy, including gendered engagement with mainstream political science issues, such as political systems and policymaking, representation and participation, citizenship and identity, equality, and women's movements; gender and international relations, including feminist approaches to international institutions, political economy and global politics; and interdisciplinary and emergent areas of study, such as masculinities studies, gender and multiculturalism, and intersectionality. Front Matter....Pages i-xv Introduction....Pages 1-25 Front Matter....Pages 27-27 The European Origins of Transnational Organizing: The International Committee for Sexual Equality....Pages 29-49 LGBT Activism in Kyrgyzstan: What Role for Europe?....Pages 50-72 “In Europe It’s Different”: Homonationalism and Peripheral Desires for Europe....Pages 73-93 Front Matter....Pages 95-95 Deploying Europe: The Creation of Discursive Imperatives for Same-Sex Unions....Pages 97-118 Transnational LGBTI Activism and the European Courts: Constructing the Idea of Europe....Pages 119-144 Queer Activism and the Idea of “Practicing Europe”....Pages 145-167 Front Matter....Pages 169-169 Trans Networking in the European Vortex: Between Advocacy and Grassroots Politics....Pages 171-192 Transnational Solidarities and LGBTQ Politics in Poland....Pages 193-211 Split Europe: Homonationalism and Homophobia in Croatia....Pages 212-232 Conclusion....Pages 233-240 Back Matter....Pages 241-245 Europe has long been regarded as a unique place for the promotion and furthering of LGBT rights. This important and compelling study investigates the alleged uniqueness and its ties to a relatively long history of LGBT and queer movements in the region. Contributors argue that LGBT movements were inspired by specific ideas about European democratic values and a responsibility towards human rights, and that they sought to realize these on the ground through activism, often crossing borders to foster a wider movement. In making this argument, they discuss the 'idea of Europe' as it relates to LGBT rights, the history of European LGBT movements, the role of European institutions in adopting LGBT policies, and the construction of European 'others' in this process This book explores the alleged uniqueness of the European experience, and investigates its ties to a long history of LGBT and queer movements in the region. These movements, the book argues, were inspired by specific ideas about Europe, which they sought to realize on the ground through activism. This text explores the alleged uniqueness of the European experience, and investigates its ties to a long history of LGBT and queer movements in the region. These movements, the book argues, were inspired by specific ideas about Europe, which they sought to realize on the ground through activism