The Wilson Center Celebrates LGBTQI+ Pride Month

Asia Program

Nontraditional Strategy Building: A Mapping of Cultural Movements in the Indo-Pacific

“However, in an age where our news outlets have become saturated with tragic stories of conflict, discrimination, and racialized violence, many observers have begun to question if equality is in fact a constitutional right or just another political buzzword for pundits to exploit. While the latter may still be true, the Indo-Pacific Region in recent years has given us ample reason to think otherwise. As such, in honor of Pride Month, now is the time to celebrate two historic expansions to queer rights led by our Eastern counterparts: first, India’s decriminalization of homosexuality in 2018 and second, the Government of Taiwan’s legalization of same-sex marriage.”

Environmental Change and Security Program

Heteronormativity in the International Development Sector and Why We Need to Get Over It

By unpacking the (intended or unintended) consequences of heteronormative policies on individuals’ well-being, an integrated, critical, and political sexuality analysis can help the international development sector to become less heteronormative. Susie Jolly, an Honorary Associate at the Institute of Development Studies, guest writes about heteronormativity, the consequences of it, whether the international development sector is heteronormative, and how the sector can become more inclusive.

Left Out and Behind: Fully Incorporating Gender Into the Climate Discourse

In the aftermath of natural disasters, which are expected to become more frequent and intense as the climate changes, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) community are routinely excluded from response, relief, and recovery efforts. LGBTQI individuals are uniquely vulnerable to exclusion, violence, and exploitation because of the intersecting impacts of social stigma, discrimination, and climate change. This analysis outlines the avoidable tragedy experienced by LGBTQI individuals when confronted with disasters and impending climate change and how understanding differences at the intersection of identity remains a critical component for designing climate policy that ensures that no one is left out or behind.

Brazil Institute

Interview with Robeyoncé Lima, a Voice for Pernambuco’s LGBTQ+

The Brazil Institute interviewed Robeyoncé Lima, a lawyer and activist who was the first trans woman politician to be elected in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco and first trans lawyer to join the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) in her state. She was elected a state deputy for Pernambuco in 2018 through the collective candidacy JUNTAS (PSOL). In this interview, we talk about Lima’s motivations for running for public office and her main legislative goals as deputy. The conversation also explores some of prejudice that still exists when it comes to the participation of trans people, Afro-descendants, and women in Brazilian politics; as well as a discussion of the broader challenges that the trans community faces in Brazil.

LGBTQ Rights in Brazil: Could the Elections Impact a Challenging Landscape?

Every June, São Paulo hosts its own celebration of LGBTQ+ identity and rights. Despite the happy atmosphere of celebration, this community still faces deep and growing challenges in the country. The Grupo Gay da Bahia (GGB)—the oldest LBGTQ+ rights organisation in Brazil—found that there were 445 deaths in 2017 due to sexual or gender orientation: the largest number in thirty-eight years, and representing a 30 percent increase from 2016.

This blog post discusses the deep political overtones of the June 2018 pride parade, against the backdrop of increasing violence and an election year in which none of the main presidential candidates were active allies of the LGBTQ+ community. In fact, the leading candidate (and now president) has long been openly opposed to gender and sexuality education programs and same-sex marriage.

Brazil’s Violence Map Shows Alarming Trends

Brazil's 2019 Violence Map showed that the country had, once again, broken its record both in absolute numbers of homicides and murder rate per 100,000 people—but those numbers were not evenly distributed among the population. The data showed a rise in violence against Black people, women, and LGBTQ+ people. Between 2015 and 2016, there was a 10-percent bump in violence against homosexual people and 35 percent increase in violence against bisexual people. Yet the report also highlighted the need for better data in Brazil: neither the official census nor the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics ask people about their sexual orientation, and police data does not sort victims based on sexual orientation.

Infographics from Brazil Institute

LGBTQ+ Community in Brazil in 2020

The Brazilian LGBTQ+ Community continues to face significant challenges in the fight for rights, equality, and personal safety. However, they have managed to win several key legal battles over the last decade. This Brazil Institute infographic covers some of the major victories for the Brazilian LGBT+ community, including the legalisation of same-sex marriage, legalisation of name and gender change for transgender individuals, and the criminalization of gender and sexuality-based discrimination.

LGBTQ+ Community in Brazil (2019)

In 2019, nearly 30% of young Brazilians identified as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, but many still lack comprehensive protections. This infographic summarizes some of key rights gained, as well as the serious challenges that remain due to ongoing violence and homophobia.

Kennan Institute

Queer Dissidents: Geopolitics and the Infrastructure of Post-Soviet LGBTQ Migration

Soviet Legacies in the Kremlin’s Take on Women’s and LGBTQ+ Rights

Ukraine Distances Itself from Russia in Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality

Kennan Fellow Spotlight: LGBTQ Rights in Post-Soviet Russia

The Kremlin's Favorite Scapegoat: The Latest Attack on LGBTQ+ Rights in Russia

Ukraine Hosts Most Successful LGBTQ Event in the Nation’s History, but New Challenges Appear

Mexico Institute

Infographic | Mexico and the United States on the March to Celebrate Pride – This Infographic is a comparative timeline of key events relating to LGBTQI + issues in Mexico and the US. The infographic notes key legislative events, court rulings, and highlights movements seeking to protect and advocate for LGBTQI+ communities in both countries.

Infographic | LGBTQI+ Rights in Mexico and the United States – This infographic explores how the LGBTQI+ community is protected under the law in both Mexico and the United. The infographic explores the passage of legislation relating to marriage, adoption, and protection against discrimination.

https://twitter.com/MexicoInstitute/status/1276233380720492546?s=20

https://twitter.com/MexicoInstitute/status/1275512584637165568?s=20

Above are also some short video clips we created from an interview we had with Gloria Careaga, who leads Fundacion Arcoiris, and LGBTQI+ organization in Mexico. In this interview Dr. Careaga spoke to us about homophobia in Mexico and how difficult it is for LGBTQI+ individuals to seek justice for discrimination and violence they face, which prompted their organization to create an Observatory that tracks attacks against the LGBTQI+ community in Mexico.

Middle East Program

Science and Technology Innovation Program

Wilson Quarterly