Emotions are central to the pursuit, organisation, and contestation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in law. This seminar explores emotions that shape conflicts of rights that emerge between different groups across law reforms aimed at better supporting LGBT people. Specifically, I consider the emotional dynamics that underscore contemporary law reform debates about religious exceptions to anti-discrimination laws, legal gender recognition, bans on “conversion therapy,” and sex and LGBT education in schools from jurisdictions including the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States. 

Drawing from critical legal theories that span Law & Emotion, Queer, Feminist, and Critical Race scholarship, this talk will consider the concept of “emotional grammar” to show how emotions structure law reform pursuits by threading together Hansard, legislation, case law, law reform consultations, and statutory guidance. By doing so, I will reflect on why addressing this emotional grammar is important for scholars, lawyers, judges, legislators, and activists seeking to navigate conflicts over LGBT rights and reforms that aim to repair the inequalities faced by LGBT people during a time of hostility and retrenchment.