Oral Presentation by Vanessa Kulcar¹
¹ University of Innsbruck, Austria
TIME: Tuesday, 14 July, 10:30 – 12:00
Location: Room 1
Session: 1
Abstract
Individuals’ lives are directly embedded in socio-political contexts, but not everyone is equally affected. Socio-political developments are particularly relevant for those marginalized, such as LGBTQIA+ persons, whose rights and security are often not guaranteed. As such, they are especially vulnerable to the emotional consequences of political events like elections. With right-wing parties that often question minority rights on the rise in Europe, insights into how minorities in Europe psychologically react to these developments are needed. This exploratory qualitative study investigated the subjective experiences of LGBTQIA+ persons in the context of the 2025 governmental election in Germany. Written narratives were collected from 61 participants before (n = 17) and after (n = 6; before & after n = 38) election day. Prompts for data collection were phrased openly to allow participants to freely reflect on their experiences during this time. Reflexive Thematic Analysis was used to elaborate on the participants’ experiences. Political developments were described as a threat to the key values of modern, progressive societies. Human rights, including minority and women’s rights, diversity and inclusion, social cohesion and support, and justice were perceived as strained due to the strengthening of right-wing populist politics. The future of recently acquired rights, such as the right to marry as a queer couple or the right to choose one’s gender, became uncertain, and the threat of discrimination and violence against minorities increased. At the same time, democratic structures were described as being in danger of being undermined by populist and extremist tendencies. Participants perceived the 2025 election in Germany as guiding future developments and were, therefore, emotionally and behaviourally more engaged than usual. Becoming an active member of a democratic society by raising awareness and participating in activism frequently provided an outlet for their emotions and helped them against feelings of resignation and powerlessness, especially prior to the election. Still, future anxiety and moral disappointment often prevailed. Taken together, the election was a significant stressor for the participants. It kept them emotionally and cognitively preoccupied and affected their behaviour. With similar developments taking place internationally, the results highlight the need to support marginalised communities in coping with political stressors.