This paper examines how conflict-related sexual violence against persons with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) is shaped by the intersection of patriarchy and heteronormativity in contexts of armed conflict and displacement. The findings demonstrate that LGBTQI+ individuals are frequently targeted specifically because of their perceived or actual nonconformity to cis-heteronormative and gender-binary norms. The degree and visibility of such nonconformity shape exposure to violence, with more visibly gender-nonconforming individuals facing heightened risk. Conflict-related sexual violence against LGBTQI+ persons operates across spatial and temporal continuums, occurring in both private and public spheres and perpetrated by state and non-state armed actors, as well as by family and community members. The paper advances an intersectional framework for analysing conflict-related sexual violence against persons with diverse SOGIESC that integrates the intersections between gender, patriarchy, sexuality and heteronormativity.
The paper identifies specific avenues for more nuanced and intersectional analytical attention to sexual violence against people with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, emphasizing the need to avoid homogenizations of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities under the LGBTQI+ acronym. The paper concludes by emphasizing the importance of moving beyond a singular focus on vulnerability and violence, and of recognizing the agency of LGBTQI+ survivors in conflict and displacement settings.
