Paper Short Abstract:

This study explores the politics of visibility of Spanish LGBTQ+ Catholic groups in activist and religious mega-events. They organize their collective action to overcome the unintelligibility of their double identity, facing limitations and conflicts in the public space.

Paper Abstract:

In recent decades, LGBTQ+ Catholic groups have emerged in several countries, seeking to create a safe space to collectively practice their religion without hiding their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. In Spain, their double identity is poorly understood in the public debate: they are considered "intrinsically disordered" according to their Church's doctrine and often feel treated as "weirdos" within the LGBTQ+ activism. To overcome unintelligibility, they develop politics of visibility from two religious frameworks: the Jesuit rhetoric of "building bridges" and the Christian imperative to "bear witness." Due to their limited resources for collective action, mega-events become strategic opportunities to mobilize their demands claiming political recognition in the activist and religious spheres. Based on data collected through archive review and fieldwork within Spanish LGBTQ+ Christian groups between 2019 and 2023, this paper explains the strategies deployed during four editions of Madrid's LGBTQ+ Pride and the 2023 World Youth Day. Internationalization, activist networking, innovative protest repertoires, and occupation of public space are key elements of the strategies. Organizational limitations and street conflicts with other groups are also explored.