This master's thesis analyzes the role of LGBTIQ activism in Slovenia in the efforts to achieve legal recognition of same-sex partnerships. The research problem stems from the question of how activists, through their discursive strategies, shaped and advocated for the right to equal recognition of same-sex relationships. The aim of the thesis was to examine how these processes were connected to broader social changes in the conceptualization of intimacy and citizenship. The theoretical framework is based on the concepts of the transformation of intimacy (Giddens) and of intimate and sexual citizenship (Plummer, Weeks, Richardson). The empirical part of the thesis relies on thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with activists who participated in key campaigns for the legal recognition of same-sex partnerships. The analysis shows that activist discourse was largely based on emphasizing values such as love and care, while at the same time it had to adapt to traditional imaginaries of family life and the role of children within the family and society. The findings confirm that activism significantly contributed to the advancement of intimate and sexual citizenship, although it was often constrained by the dynamics of normalization and the need for strategic conformity. This thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexity of the struggle for sexual minority rights and opens up questions regarding the future directions of the LGBTIQ movement in Slovenia.
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