The term "existential risk" refers to threats that have the potential to destroy human civilization, either through natural disaster, technological misuse, warfare, climate change, or other catastrophes. In authoritarian countries where homosexuality is criminalized, transgender people are persecuted, and queer identities are suppressed, LGBTQ+ activists face unique challenges when navigating existential risks. Existential risk poses an additional threat because it can be difficult for these individuals to obtain support from family members, friends, colleagues, and others who may view them as outsiders due to their gender identity or sexual orientation. In this essay, I will explore how LGBTQ+ activists navigate existential risks in authoritarian contexts and what philosophical frameworks help explain resilience under oppression.
Let's consider an example of an existential risk facing LGBTQ+ activists in an authoritarian country like Uganda. In 2014, President Yoweri Museveni signed into law the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which criminalizes same-sex relationships and imposes harsh penalties such as life imprisonment and even death sentences for certain offenses related to homosexuality. This has created a hostile environment for LGBTQ+ individuals, who must constantly fear arrest, violence, and other forms of discrimination. To protect themselves, many activists turn to underground networks, secret meetings, and online communication channels to avoid detection by authorities.
This creates its own set of problems, as activists often feel isolated and disconnected from wider social movements and struggles outside of their immediate communities.
Philosopher Slavoj Zizek provides one framework that can help us understand why some activists are able to maintain resilience despite facing existential risks. He argues that individuals can access inner resources through "symbolic violence," which involves subverting dominant ideologies and reclaiming power over their identities. By challenging traditional ideas about gender and sexuality, LGBTQ+ activists can assert their right to live freely and openly, regardless of societal expectations or legal restrictions.
Activist groups in Uganda have organized Pride parades and marches, public protests against the Anti-Homosexuality Act, and support groups for LGBTQ+ refugees fleeing persecution in their home countries. These actions demonstrate that even in authoritarian contexts, activists can resist oppression and build solidarity with others fighting similar battles.
Another philosophical framework that helps explain resilience is Emmanuel Levinas' theory of ethics. Levinas argued that ethics is grounded in intersubjective relationships, whereby individuals recognize the inherent worth and dignity of others. This applies to LGBTQ+ activism because it emphasizes the importance of creating inclusive spaces where people can express themselves authentically without fear of judgment or reprisal. Activists work to foster empathy and understanding between diverse groups by advocating for equal rights, promoting acceptance, and challenging homophobia and transphobia. In doing so, they create a sense of community that allows them to navigate existential risks together, rather than alone.
Psychologist Viktor Frankl's concept of logotherapy offers another perspective on how LGBTQ+ activists can find meaning in times of crisis. According to Frankl, humans possess an innate desire for purpose, which can be fulfilled through creative activities, personal growth, or helping others. By engaging in activism, LGBTQ+ individuals can find purpose in working towards social change and building a more just world. They may also draw strength from knowing that their efforts are making a difference, despite facing opposition and setbacks along the way.
Existential risk poses unique challenges for LGBTQ+ activists in authoritarian contexts due to increased vulnerability and isolation.
Philosophers like Zizek, Levinas, and Frankl offer frameworks that help explain resilience under oppression. By subverting dominant ideologies, cultivating solidarity, and finding purpose in their work, these activists continue to fight for equality and justice, even when faced with existential threats. As such, it is essential to support and celebrate their efforts, both locally and globally.
How do LGBT activists navigate existential risk in authoritarian contexts, and what philosophical frameworks help explain resilience under oppression?
Researchers have studied how LGBT individuals deal with discrimination and persecution from an existential perspective by examining the various ways they respond to it. The most common strategies used are accommodation, avoidance, and resistance. Accommodation is when LGBT individuals try to fit into society's norms by concealing their identities or engaging in behaviors that align with heterosexuality.