Confronting Homophobia in Europe - by Alessandro Gasparini & Luca Trappolin & Robert Wintemute (Paperback)

About the Book

"Homophobia exists in many different forms across Europe. Member States offer uneven levels of legal protection for lesbian and gay rights; at the same time the social meanings and practices relating to homosexuality are culturally distinct and intersect in complex ways with gender, class and ethnicity in different national contexts. The essays in this volume illustrate the findings of a European project on homophobia and fundamental rights in which sociologists and legal experts have analysed the position in four Member States: Italy, Slovenia, Hungary and the UK. The first part of the book investigates the sociological dimensions of homophobia through qualitative methods involving both heterosexual and self-defined lesbian and gay respondents, including those in ethnic communities. The aim is to understand how homophobia and homosexuality are defined and experienced in the everyday life of participants. The second part is devoted to a legal analysis of how homophobia is reproduced 'in law' and how it is confronted 'with law'. The analysis examines statute and case law; 'soft law'; administrative practices; the discussion of bills within parliamentary committees; and decisions of public authorities. Among the areas discussed are 'hate crimes' and 'hate speech'; education at all levels; free movement, immigration and asylum; and cross-border reproductive services"--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Homophobia has different qualitative and quantitative features in different European countries and within Member States. On one hand, countries give uneven levels of legal protection to the rights of lesbian and gay people; on the other hand, the social meanings and practices related to homosexuality depend on the distinctive intersection of cultural systems - such as gender, class, and ethnicity - within national contexts and communities. The essays in this book illustrate the findings of a European project on homophobia and fundamental rights in which sociologists and legal experts have analyzed such elements in four Member States: Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, and the UK. The first part of the book is dedicated to the sociological investigation of the everyday life dimension of homophobia through qualitative methods which involved both heterosexual respondents and lesbian and gay respondents, including those in ethnic and religious communities. The second part is devoted to a juridical analysis of how homophobia is reproduced 'in law' and how it is contrasted 'with law.' The analysis follows a legal process approach which examines statutory law and case law, so-called soft law, administrative practices, the discussion of bills within parliamentary committees, and decisions of public authorities.

About the Author

Luca Trappolin is Assistant Professor of Sociology at the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Padova.
Alessandro Gasparini, PhD, is Research Fellow and Contract Professor of Private Comparative Law at the University of Bologna.
Robert Wintemute is Professor of Human Rights Law in the School of Law, King's College London.