ABSTRACT
The European Union (EU) functions as the main policy framework for European states and is a major actor on the international stage. In recent years, it has taken a global stance on promoting human rights in the same way that EU laws require certain human rights standards to prevent gender, sexuality, racial, and religious discrimination for all its member states. This extends to respecting human and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI) rights, which the EU has made one of its priorities for all countries who want to engage in formal trade agreements or receive aid, for instance. LGBTI rights promotion policies by the Union have led to tensions with negotiation partners, for example, in sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. This chapter sets the stage, probing if an artificial ‘clash of civilizations’ is being constructed in the process. Europe’s human rights policies and EU institutions, as well as existing venues and strategies for LGBTI rights promotion efforts, are detailed.
