Description
This study examines the formation and dynamics of social capital within Colombia’s LGBTQIA+ communities in the aftermath of the peace agreement between the State and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—FARC, with a focus on the lived experiences and initiatives of 14 grassroots organizations. By centring the perspectives of these local actors, the research highlights how LGBTQIA+ communities define, confront, and navigate violence, fostering networks of collaboration, mutual support, and solidarity from the ground up. Employing a mixed-methods approach structured into two participatory research phases, the study combines qualitative and quantitative insights to co-produce knowledge with community members. It emphasizes the critical role of inclusive, locally-driven everyday strategies for peacebuilding and historical reparation, demonstrating how grassroots approaches can inform broader frameworks such as queer practices of place and queer geographies. Recognizing LGBTQIA+ individuals as victims of armed conflict, the study advocates for reparative mechanisms grounded in their narratives and experiences. Moreover, it showcases how community-led initiatives serve as practices of historical recognition, territorial reclamation, and resilience, countering the dislocations and deterritorialization imposed by armed violence. Ultimately, this research underscores the transformative potential of grassroots LGBTQIA+ activism in shaping socially just, locally-informed peace processes.
