Gender and Sexuality and (D/d)Issensus over Liberal Democracy

Abstract What can we learn about the politics of gender and sexuality from the emerging dissensus over liberal democracy, and vice versa? This chapter opens the theoretical box of dissensus over liberal democracy to help us understand the role of the EU as a site of contestation around gender and LGBTIQ rights. We argue that to understand these politics, we must first theorise the different functions of dissensus, which we distinguish as (d)issensus that is part of democratic practice and (D)issensus that works as a technology of power. Through this theorising, we highlight how (D)issensus over gender and sexuality is used as a vehicle for polarisation and to undermine the progressive potential of (d)issensus. Only by centring dissensus over the rights afforded to minoritised groups can we start to examine the “health” of liberal democracy. This analysis will thus shed light on the limitations of a policy agenda that stems from a “permissive” consensus around the economic case for equality. The chapter concludes by reflecting on the consequences of (D/d)issensus for political actions and liberal democracy, highlighting the dangers of allowing emancipatory (d)issensus to be displaced by a form of (D)issensus that is destructive and oppressive.