LGBT Activism and the Making of Europe A Rainbow Europe [Paperback]

This book explores the alleged uniqueness of the European experience, and investigates its ties to a long history of LGBT and queer movements in the region. These movements, the book argues, were inspired by specific ideas about Europe, which they sought to realize on the ground through activism.1. Introduction; Phillip M. Ayoub and David Paternotte PART I: MEANINGS OF EUROPE 2. The European Origins of Transnational Organizing: The International Committee for Sexual Equality; Leila J. Rupp 3. LGBT activism in Kyrgyzstan: What Role for Europe?; Cai Wilkinson 4. 'In Europe it's Different': Homonationalism and Peripheral Desires for Europe; Gianmaria Colpani and Adriano Jos? Habed PART II: PRACTICING EUROPE IN LGBTQ ACTIVISM 5. Deploying Europe: The Creation of Discursive Imperatives for Same-sex Unions; Kelly Kollman 6. Transnational LGBTI Activism and the European Courts: Constructing the Idea of Europe; Anna van der Vleuten 7. Queer Activism and the Idea of 'Practicing Europe'; Konstantinos Eleftheriadis PART III: BECOMING EUROPEAN 8. Trans Networking in the European Vortex: Between Advocacy and Grassroots Politics; Carsten Balzer and Jan Simon Hutta 9. Transnational Solidarities and LGBTQ Politics in Poland; Jon Binnie and Christian Klesse 10. Split Europe: Homonationalism and Homophobia in Croatia; Kevin Moss 11. Conclusion

The LGTBQ movement is not very much studied in social movement research. This very interesting collection contributes to fill this gap, which is all the more puzzling given the relevance of this movement in the struggle for civil rights and the deepening of democracy at different territorial levels. The contributions address an interesting variety of countries, geographical levels, but also areas of LGTBQ's activities - from legal practices to Queer festivals . Professor Donatella della Porta, European University Institute, Florence, Italy

Is Europe gay? Ayoub and Paternotte offer exceptional insights into how gay ril3ˆ