As right-wing populist parties gain prominence in European politics, minority rights, including those of LGBTQ+ people, face increasing contestation. This growing hostility not only threatens the rights and wellbeing of marginalized groups but also constrains organizations advocating on their behalf. While case studies suggest that hostile political environments can shape organizational strategies, systematic evidence on how different forms of hostility affect advocacy choices remains scarce. This paper fills this gap, and examines how issue-level hostility influences the strategic tactics of LGBTQ+ organizations across Europe. Drawing on original survey data, approximately 200 organizations from 9 European countries reported on two policy issues. For each issue, respondents assessed the levels of opposition from various actors, as well as the degree of political polarization and media attention. The paper analyzes how hostility shapes the selection of strategies, including insider lobbying, outsider mobilization, and litigation. Doing so, the study identifies systematic patterns showing which conditions favor particular tactics. The findings provide large-N evidence on how the political environment constrains advocacy behavior, and reveals how contestation affects organizational choices in the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights.
