‘RAINBOW STATELESSNESS’ — BETWEEN SEXUAL
CITIZENSHIP AND LEGAL THEORY: EXPLORING THE
STATELESSNESS–LGBTIQ+ NEXUS
THOMAS MCGEE *
This article responds to the literature gap within both discourses on ‘sexual citizenship’ and
statelessness studies on the nexus between statelessness and sexual orientation, gender identity
and expression, and sex characteristics (‘SOGIESC’). It explores the intersectional experiences of
stateless lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer plus (‘LGBTIQ+’) individuals as
well as circumstances in which discrimination on SOGIESC grounds can cause statelessness for
LGBTIQ+ persons or their children. In addition to rare reports of arbitrary deprivation of
citizenship from LGBTIQ+ persons, the non-recognition of post-transition statuses and intersex
realities may lead to situations of statelessness. Finally, complex legislation and administrative
practices around assisted reproductive technology — and especially international commercial
surrogacy — can leave children born within ‘rainbow families’ at particular risk of statelessness.
In arguing that a global nexus does indeed exist between SOGIESC and statelessness, this article
calls for further empirical research in order to provide greater nuance and context-specific
understandings of the intersectional experiences and causes of statelessness for LGBTIQ+
individuals around the world.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction: A Nexus Unexplored? ....................................................................... 64
Sexual Citizenship ...................................................................................... 67
Statelessness Studies .................................................................................. 69
Intersectional Experiences ...................................................................................... 71
SOGIESC-Discrimination as a Cause of Statelessness........................................... 74
Arbitrary Deprivation of Citizenship .......................................................... 75
1
At Birth .......................................................................................... 75
2
Through Marriage/Civil Partnership .............................................. 75
3
Ad Hoc Deprivation ....................................................................... 76
4
On Vulnerable Ground ................................................................... 77
Post-Transition and Intersex Statelessness ................................................. 78
Statelessness for Children of Rainbow Families ........................................ 80
Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 84
INTRODUCTION: A NEXUS UNEXPLORED?
Obviously, some percentage of immigrants and stateless persons are sexual
minorities. Whether one names this fact ‘intersectionality’ or ‘multiple
oppressions’ or simply common sense, it is important to remind ourselves that
noncitizens and sexual minorities are not mutually exclusive groups. 1
*
1
PhD Candidate, Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness. The author would like to thank Ziva
Gorani and acknowledge the helpful guiding comments she provided throughout the research
for this article. Further gratitude goes to the interviewees who shared their experiences with
the author.
Ruthann Robson and Tanya Kessler, ‘Unsettling Sexual Citizenship’ (2008) 53 McGill Law
Journal 536, 560.