Inclusive Liberal Futures: LGBT Communities  – Building Sustainable Inclusion Across Political Contexts

About the event  

This session explores what meaningful LGBT inclusion within liberal politics looks like across different political realities in Europe. Whether a party operates in an openly hostile environment or is seen as leaders on inclusion, the workshop starts from the understanding that structural barriers, blind spots and unequal participation still exist across all political contexts. Rather than focusing only on best practices, the session creates space for honest reflection on both progress made and challenges that remain. 

Bringing together political parties, LGBT civil society organisations and inclusion practitioners, participants will examine how party cultures, leadership structures and political environments shape who feels safe, supported and able to participate fully in political life. Discussions will explore issues such as candidate selection, tokenism, burnout, internal resistance, visibility, trust between civil society and political actors, and the tension between electoral strategy and liberal values 

Grounded in co-creation and people-first design, the discussion centres lived experience not as testimony, but as political expertise. Together we will generate actionable insights that shape party structures, inform future work under the Inclusive Liberal Futures framework, and ensure that inclusive liberal politics begins within our own organisations. 

Programme  

Day 1: Monday, 29 June 

Arrival 

19:00 Dinner 

Location: TBC 

Day 2: Tuesday, 30 June 

Location: TBC 

09:00 Arrivals & Registration 

09:25 Welcome 

Speaker: Goran Neralic, European Liberal Forum 

09:30 Framing the Space 

Facilitator: Luis Cano, Rainbow Platform 

Introduction to the objectives and guiding principles of the session. Exchange on anonymous reflections to frame the discussion. 

10:00 What Does LGBT Inclusion Look Like Across Europe Today? 

Exchange on how political culture, social stigma, religion, geography, and media environments shape LGBT participation across Europe.  

10:45 Coffee Break 

11:00 Inside the Party: Structural Barriers to Queer Political Participation 

Closed session for pol. party participants. 

Confidential exchange for political party representatives to identify the formal and informal dynamics that prevent LGBTQI+ members from advancing safely and sustainably within party structures. 

12:00 Lunch 

13:00 Trust, Fatigue & Political Distance: Civil Society Perspectives 

Facilitator: Luis Cano, Rainbow Platform 

LGBTQI+ civil society actors reflect on why many activists remain skeptical of political parties and what authentic long-term engagement would require. 

14:30 Translating Inclusion Across Political Contexts 

Mixed-country groups adapt successful LGBT inclusion models to politically hostile or high-stigma environments where visibility, safety, and electability operate differently. 

16:00 Coffee Break 

16:15 When Inclusion Efforts Fail: Backlash, Tokenism & Burnout 

Participants examine unsuccessful inclusion strategies and discuss the tensions between political values, electoral pressures, symbolic visibility, and sustainable participation.  

16:45 Day 1 Wrap-Up 

19:00 Dinner 

Location: TBC 

Day 3: Wednesday, 1 July 

Location: TBC 

09:00 Key Reflections from Day One 

Facilitator: Luis Cano, Rainbow Platform 

9:30 Beyond Recruitment: Sustaining LGBT Political Leadership 

Facilitated discussion on how parties can better support LGBT candidates and elected representatives facing harassment, isolation, burnout, and long-term emotional pressure. 

10:45 From Discussion to Practice: Building Safer and More Inclusive Party Structures 

Party representatives work alongside civil society representatives to develop realistic, context-sensitive reforms and concrete next steps for improving LGBT inclusion within six months. 

11:45 Looking Ahead: Shared Commitments & Cooperation 

Closing reflections on maintaining collaboration between liberal parties and LGBT civil society, strengthening peer-learning, and sustaining inclusion efforts beyond electoral cycles. 

12:00 Lunch 

13:00 Departure of Participants 

13:30 – 15:00 Organizer Debriefing  

Session summary and discussion on findings for project briefing.  

Facilitator: Jana Sproul, Rainbow Platform