The Global State of LGBTIQ Organizing : the Right to Register

F. Daly

The study finds that many organizations globally cannot register if they explicitly state their aim to serve LGBTIQ people or address their concerns. Governments often deny registration on religious and moral grounds, to limit the fundamental freedom of assembly, and have gone so far as to call LGBTIQ organizations a threat to national security. In-depth case studies from Belize, China, Lebanon, Germany, Nigeria, Russia, St Lucia, Singapore, Tanzania and Tunisia present the experiences of 22 LGBTIQ civil society leaders seeking or maintaining their registration status. Without a registration status many funders are unable to support LGBTIQ organizations and sometimes even opening an organizational bank account is impossible. Non registered LGBTIQ organizations may not be able to meet with government officials, and sometimes not even hold their own meetings without breaking the law. Without legal recognition groups can be forced to go underground, avoid public activism, be relegated to a hidden social network or group, or to even work illegally. In the worst cases, they experience state surveillance, indiscriminate arrests, and state sanctioned violence.