General Information

SPW organized a series of Regional Dialogues on Sexuality and Geopolitics, to convene in Asia (Vietnam, April 2009), Latin America (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 2009) and Africa (Lagos, Nigeria, October 2010). Inspired by the studies that form the e-book SexPolitics: Reports from the Front Lines, the Regional Dialogues aimed at expanding the knowledge and understanding that emerged from this previous research efforts and to more organically articulate global analysis and regional and national processes of research and activism.  The dialogues provided a venue to discuss and think more deeply and complexly about shifts in the geopolitical landscape of the politics of sexuality.

For example, the official stance against homophobia in Brazil and Cuba, although it contrasts with ongoing episodes of state policing of sexual diversity and freedom, signifies an opening, a bit of promise, in a global scenario that remains dangerous for many sexual outlaws. On the other hand, both militarism and religious extremism, far from subsiding, are proliferating in many different and problematic ways. Whether in India, Peru, South Africa or the halls of the UN, our observations confirm that sexual discourse and experience are embedded in power relations and inextricably intertwined with inequalities based race, ethnicity, gender and class.

The Regional Dialogues on Sexuality and Geopolitics mapped and analyze these complexities in an atmosphere that represents regional diversity and multiple perspectives. The Dialogues were intended to be applicable to all target regions yet adaptable to specific circumstances. Each Dialogue consisted of meetings to take place over three to four days. Based on its particular location and timing, each Dialogue developped its own subjects of interest, design and flow.

All of the Dialogues were organized around an overarching framework that privileges two theoretical constructs of sexuality – politics and culture. The conversations also explored key areas of intersection: sexuality and political processes; sexuality and economies; sexuality and religion; and sexuality and science. This framework was meant to facilitate the choice of specific subjects to be explored in each Dialogue and to allow for cross-regional comparisons and analyses.

The Regional Dialogues were open to SPW members and invited guests. Information about the debates and presentations, as well as the results from them, are available at SPW’s website:  Asian Dialogue (Vietnam, April 2009), Latin American Dialogue (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 2009) and African Dialogue (Lagos, Nigeria, October 2010).

For more information, please contact the SPW Secretariat at admin@sxpolitics.org