Orientation sexuelle et engagement politique : qui participe, comment et pourquoi ?

Programme

Matin (10h-12h)

Intervenante : Ruth Dassonneville 

Title 1: Discrimination-Driven Mobilization: How Sexual Orientation Shapes LGBT Political Participation

Abstract: Existing scholarship suggests that discrimination can mobilize marginalized groups into heightened political engagement, yet the mechanisms behind this phenomenon remain poorly understood. We introduce a two-level theory of discrimination-driven mobilization: First, group consciousness among sexual minorities fosters general political activation. Second, individual consciousness, that is personal experiences of discrimination due to sexual orientation, significantly intensify this activation. Using original cross-national data from 13 democracies, we find empirical support for our theory: sexual minorities consistently demonstrate higher levels of political participation in both electoral and non-electoral activities. We show evidence for both group and individual consciousness hypotheses. Moreover, we identify three potential mechanisms driving this mobilization: enhanced external political efficacy, increased ideological extremity on identity-related issues, and heightened affective polarization. By highlighting the selective nature of discrimination-driven mobilization, our findings offer new theoretical insights into how group and individual experiences jointly shape minority political behavior and deepen polarization in contemporary democracies.

Intervenant·es : Anja Durovic, Tristan Haute

Titre 2: A French Lavender Vote ? The Influence of Sexuality, Experiences of Discriminations and Political Attitudes on Voting Behaviour in the 2024 Legislative Elections

Abstract: The radical right is enjoying significant electoral success in France. Against this backdrop, the notion of a “shift to the right” among LGBTQIA+ people (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and others) is frequently raised. In this paper, we propose examining the specificities and diversity of LGBTQIA+ individuals' electoral preferences in the 2024 French legislative elections, factors that influence these preferences. Several studies have highlighted that, due to their different social experiences, homosexual, bisexual, transgender and non-binary individuals sometimes exhibit different electoral preferences and political attitudes. We argue that, to understand the electoral choices of LGBTQIA+ individuals, the unequal affirmation of belonging to the community and the varying salience of sexual orientation-related issues must be considered. Our empirical analyses are based on data from an online post-election survey conducted from 9 to 16 July 2024. The survey sample was representative of the French population, comprising 5,109 people. Using several self-identification questions, we isolated a subsample of 497 people who identified as homosexual, bisexual, transgender or non-binary. Firstly, we show that LGBTQIA+ voters exhibit diverse electoral preferences, even when compared to the rest of the sample. Secondly, we present evidence that this diversity in voting preferences among LGBTQIA+ respondents is linked to their gender, whether or not they have experienced discrimination and their political attitudes.

Après-midi (14h-16h)

Intervenante : Anja Durovic, Tristan Haute, Emma Nemesien

Atelier pratique sur les nouvelles mesures du genre dans les enquêtes internationales