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Introduction: EU Enlargement and LGBT Rights—Beyond Symbolism?

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The EU Enlargement and Gay Politics

Part of the book series: Gender and Politics ((GAP))

Abstract

Over the last decade, the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) people have become an ever more salient and controversial topic in international politics. LGBT rights are increasingly considered a litmus test for a country’s broader human rights record. As Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, so eloquently articulated:

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Notes

  1. 1.

    We will discuss the decisions in relation to use of ‘gay’ and ‘LGBT’ in more detail later in the introduction.

  2. 2.

    Quoted from Roth (2014).

  3. 3.

    Quoted in a press release from the European Parliament Intergroup on LGBT Rights (Intergroup on LGBT Rights 2014).

  4. 4.

    The chapter by Swimelar utilizes the more general norm diffusion theory. However, Europeanization via enlargement is a closely linked process which can be seen as a specific case of the norm diffusion theory. For more on norm diffusion, see Swimelar’s chapter.

  5. 5.

    The chapter by Kuhar and Mencin Čeplak does indeed refer to political homophobia; however, the authors have chosen not to use the term homophobia in their work, as they see the concept as not fit to describe the rationalized nature of sexual prejudices.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Politics and International Relations, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK

    Koen Slootmaeckers

  2. Leuven International and European Studies (LINES), KU Leuven – University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Heleen Touquet

  3. Leuven International and European Studies (LINES), KU Leuven – University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Peter Vermeersch

Authors
  1. Koen Slootmaeckers
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  2. Heleen Touquet
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  3. Peter Vermeersch
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Politics and IR, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom

    Koen Slootmaeckers

  2. KU Leuven – University of Leuven, Leuven International & European Studies, Leuven, Belgium

    Heleen Touquet

  3. KU Leuven – University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Peter Vermeersch

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Slootmaeckers, K., Touquet, H., Vermeersch, P. (2016). Introduction: EU Enlargement and LGBT Rights—Beyond Symbolism?. In: Slootmaeckers, K., Touquet, H., Vermeersch, P. (eds) The EU Enlargement and Gay Politics. Gender and Politics. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-48093-4_1

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