The queer international: LGBTI+ advocacy at the United Nations beyond ‘Western imposition’

This article examines the debates at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) surrounding the renewal of the Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity (IE SOGI). Based on ethnographic fieldwork, it analyzes the interplay between colonial legacies, cultural narratives, and queer transnational advocacy. The research addresses three central questions: How do discussions of colonialism intersect with debates on gender and sexuality at the HRC? What impact does this intersection have on the strategies of queer transnational activists? How do the distinct positions of states and civil society actors influence these debates? The article argues that state representatives often perpetuate colonial binaries, invoking “culture” to delegitimize sexual and gender diversity as “Western” or “unnatural.” Conversely, LGBTI + activists engage in decolonial advocacy, challenging these cultural monopolies and asserting their truth about the intersection that marks their identities. Such contrast underscores a key distinction: While states reinforce static hierarchies, civil society actors mobilize transnational solidarity to construct a “queer subject of rights” in international human rights law. In doing so, the article introduces a more nuanced analysis of Joseph Massad’s notion of the “Gay International,” which portrays international queer advocacy as a form of Western imposition. This study highlights activists’ resistance to cultural essentialism and their contributions to a more inclusive understanding of queer rights within global governance structures. The findings contribute to broader discussions on coloniality, decolonization, and the politics of sexuality in international fora, emphasizing the transformative role of transnational queer advocacy in challenging global power hierarchies.