Between ‘faggots’ and ‘bigots’: a political ethnography of collective identity construction in anti-gender and LGBTQI+ movements in Belgium

Examining anti-gender mobilizations, Kuhar & Paternotte (2017) emphasize the need for a departure from mechanistic views found in understanding anti-feminism, backlash, or counter-movements. Indeed, these perspectives often adopt a teleological view, overlooking the nuanced aspects of the phenomenon. Considering anti-gender movements solely as a 'natural' reaction to feminist and queer struggles prevents from understanding their generative power and internal diversity. Yet, I propose to compare anti-gender and LGBTQI+ movements, exploring their shared mechanisms of meaning construction. Despite differences, both rely on comparable processes of collective identity building and drawing boundaries between 'us' and 'them' (Simon & Klandermans, 2001). Acknowledging their uniqueness while recognizing the shared conflictual nature of identity construction is crucial. This being said, defining ourselves in relation to the 'other' shapes and sustains power systems leading me to distinguish how delineating 'us' and 'them' reinforces power imbalances Political ethnography serves as my methodological approach, immersing me in the field to understand social phenomena with a specific sensibility both in the French and Dutch-speaking spheres in Belgium. My entry point starts with the organization of the Brussels Pride in 2024 for LGBTQI+ movements, involving participant observation in meetings of 3 key umbrella LGBTQI+ organizations in Belgium. This immersion extends to the execution of protests, providing insights into the construction of collective identity and unveiling internal conflicts. Shifting focus to the anti-gender movement, I delve into activities organized by pro-life Catholic entities coordinating the Marche Pour la Vie in 2024. My objective is to participate in the preparatory meeting. Preliminary findings reveal a nuanced dynamic within pro-life organizations, avoiding explicit 'othering' yet inadvertently contributing to it. These organizations construct identities that deviate from imagining queer existence, upholding heteronormative models. Meanwhile, LGBTQI+ organizations perceive anti-gender mobilizations as a challenge to their identity. Internal conflicts, including concerns over cis-men's overrepresentation, generational disparities, debates on intersectionality, and discussions on radicality, emerge as pivotal elements in shaping LGBTQI+ movements' identity. Kuhar, R., & Paternotte, D. (2017). Anti-Gender Campaigns in Europe: Mobilizing against Equality. Rowman & Littlefield. Simon, B., & Klandermans, B. (2001). Politicized collective identity: A social psychological analysis. American Psychologist, 56, 319–331.