LGBTIplus-inequalities
LGBTI+ Social and Economical (in)equalities
In recent decades, the promotion and protection of the civil and political rights of LGBTI+ people have become an important subject of the European Union’s internal and external politics on different bureaucratic, political, institutional and discursive levels.
The EU views non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity as an important part of European ‘shared values’. This normative agenda is reflected in a broad range of hard law directives and legally binding treaties (such as the EU Employment Equality Directive, the “Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union” as part of the Lisbon Treaty 2009 and Guidelines to Promote and Protect the Enjoyment of All Human Rights by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI)1 Persons, 2013) as well as a wide variety of political statements by the European Parliament and other important political actors at the European level (e.g. by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and by the Parliamentary Intergroup on Lesbian, Gay and Transgender Rights) that condemned discrimination and violence against LGBTI+ people.
The purpose of this project is to develop a network. We envisage this occurring through a ‘cascading’ process that begins with a core of known academics regularly publishing in this area, which is followed by a broadening through other academics and countries. In part, our aim is academic in nature; however, we also envisage our network leading to greater data collection (including on surveys run by governmental and non-governmental agencies), informed support for CSOs and improved policy advice for governments and intergovernmental agencies. By bringing together a network of scholars specialising in issues related to the marginalisation of LGBTI+ communities, the following research questions will be explored:
A1) What are the socio-economic realities of LGBTI+ people in the EU and how have advances in human rights changed their well-being?
A2) How can greater inclusion of LGBTI+ identities occur in socio-economic data collection and analysis to support policy development?
A3) What are the opportunities and obstacles of LGBTI+ research across EU countries considering issues such as migration within Europe and refugees?
A4) What interventions are needed to support scholars to pursue LGBTI+ research, particularly in countries with fewer resources and where LGBTI+ people face more extreme adversity?
A5) How can specific vulnerabilities within the LGBTI+ group (e.g. gender identity, variations in sex characteristics, race/ethnicity, ageing and disability status, pregnancy and parenting) be addressed across different research methods and academic disciplines?
A6) How can researchers work alongside stakeholders to identify the social and economic issues faced by LGBTI+ people to develop innovative practices aimed at strengthening community and workplace environments?
A7) As a network, how can researchers and stakeholders support the development of effective policies aimed at promoting LGBTI+ inclusion?