Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Policies in Majority-Catholic Countries

This research contributes to scholarship on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/ Questioning, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) rights at the international level and how LGBTQIA+ non-governmental organisations (NGOs) use international channels to advance the cause domestically, with a focus on countries that have a strong presence and influence of the Catholic Church. Case studies include Ireland, Italy and Peru. Based on over fifty interviews, author Helen Karen West identifies how specialised LGBTQIA+ INGOs facilitate access to international channels for local NGOs and argues that by accessing transnational networks and utilising international NGOs to access United Nations’ (UN) channels, local NGOs have a better chance of influencing domestic policy change in majority Catholic countries. She argues that it is necessary to consider an additional actor to predict outcomes more efficiently: the opposition, in this case, the Catholic Church and affiliated organisations, and its transnational network. West offers helpful insight into influencing domestic policies in countries with strong opposition to allow LGBTQIA+ organisations a better chance to succeed in their work and further the academic dialogue.  Helen Karen West is an Italian scholar who holds a bachelor’s degree and postgraduate degree in Political Science from the Università degli Studi di Cagliari . She later earned a master’s degree and PhD in International Relations from London Metropolitan University. Currently, she works for Amnesty International's International Secretariat and is an active advocate for human rights, with a particular focus on women and LGBTQIA+ rights.