Homonationalism: Europe's gay voters turn to the far right

Homonationalism: the LGTBIQ+ vote swings to the far right in Europe

Pim Fortuyn, the openly lgtb Dutch politician murdered in 2002, was the forerunner of a trend that is now taking hold: homonationalism. The term, coined by scholar Jasbir Puar, describes the shift of LGTBIQ+ voters towards far-right parties, a phenomenon that began in the United States after 9/11 and is now spreading across Europe.

According to the analysis circulating in political debate, in countries such as France, Germany or the UK, the majority of lgtb voters already support far-right parties. The main reason is said to be not major attacks, but the everyday assaults suffered by the community. For every lgtb man who ends up in hospital after a beating, there are dozens who have been insulted or threatened in the street. The perception of insecurity around certain migrant groups, especially those of Muslim background, is reshaping the vote.

The Spanish exception

In Spain, however, the pattern does not hold. Polls show that LGTBIQ+ voters still lean mostly to the left. "Here they are rogelios," goes the colloquial saying, referring to a supposed ideological loyalty that trumps security concerns. Vox, Spain's far-right party, fails to attract lgtb voters despite its attempts to present itself as a defender of LGTBI rights against Sarracin.

An open debate on causes and consequences

The debate reveals opposing views. While some argue the shift is a logical response to the Sarracinist threat, others point out that not all parties of the so-called "alternative right" are the same: some receive funding from Russia and others from Israel. There are also those who downplay the community's electoral weight, putting it at less than 1% of the population. What is certain is that homonationalism is already a reality across much of Europe, and its political implications are far from settled.