Iraqi artist Mokhallad Habib uses scars of warfare to create symbols of peace. A powerful tactic that reminds the one to reclaim slurs or hate messages, often used by LGBTQI campaigns. The reactions to these images are overwhelmingly positive, although the tactic can also be called out as naive. This shows the power of sincerity…
Between 2015 and 2017, LGBT activists in Russia joined forces to defend the rights of an unlikely group of essential workers….truck drivers! In doing so, they challenged stereotypes and helped reshape the narrative surrounding LGBT activism. This case offers a lesson in creative campaigning as described by campaign co-organiser Alexey Sergeev. Context: Truck drivers protest…
Flip the Script: How to turn hostile narratives inside out Most of us make sense of the world through the stories we already know. We pay attention to what feels familiar and often miss what doesn’t. It’s simply how many minds work. It is also why facts alone rarely change minds, and hostile narratives spread…
Whatever change you are trying to make, you need to win hearts and minds to win acceptance of sexual and gender diversities. But the Human heart and mind are strange creatures, sometimes defying logic, often ‘puzzling’ common sense. But most puzzles have solutions, and finding them brings great satisfaction. This publication is about presenting…
In this campaign, Turkish activists fought anti-LGBTIQ erasure by showing that queer people have always been a part of the family—and they're not going anywhere.
In this campaign, Romanian advocates mocked opponents of civil unions, asking, \”What's so scary and revolting about two people loving each other?\”
Participatory & Experiential Campaigning Experiential and participatory tactics invite people to feel, act and reflect. From in-person live acting to Virtual Reality, creating moments for observation, conversation and participation, engages people in a personal way. These tactics help campaigns break out of their bubbles, make values more tangible, and create emotional connections that last beyond…
Bypassing censorship Creative strategies to get your message heard despite bans. Across the globe, governments are increasingly using censorship, online and offline, to control political dissent and civil disobedience, especially when it comes to LGBTI rights. In these hostile contexts, where speaking out can lead to surveillance, violence, or criminalisation, standard forms of protest can…
Humour-Based Tactics for Effective Campaigning Here’s the thing: nonstop doom and gloom can make people shut down. But pretending everything’s fine doesn’t work either. Facts matter, and if we skip over them, we lose connection with the challenges at hand. That’s where humour comes in. A well-placed laugh doesn’t erase the truth; it helps to…
Reclaiming the negative: when to confront, when to reframe, and how to shift public understanding When faced with harmful speech, for instance, slurs or dehumanising language, our instinct is often to respond directly, to call out false accusations and set the record straight. Sometimes this works; other times, it backfires. Research shows our brains are…