| dc.description.abstract | This thesis searches to understand the role of identity in lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) movements in repressive contexts. The issues of identity in LGBT activism is studied through the Group in Defense of Minorities (GDM), which is one of the few groups that fight to improve the rights of LGBT and gender minorities in Morocco. The thesis is based on explorative research conducted through fieldwork in Morocco and in-depth qualitative interviews with activists from GDM. Several different theoretical approaches from the field of social movement studies are applied in the analysis. I have used perspectives and concepts from political process theory, new social movements’ theory, and network theory in order to understand how GDM work for the legal rights of LGBT and gender minorities in Morocco. The analysis was drawn out in three parts. (1) I have looked at how GDMs collective identity affects the members’ activism, (2) how do the members construct mobilization strategies in a repressive context, and (3) how the members strategically work with the visibility of LGBT activism. My analysis shows that the activists of GDM construct a space of solidarity and experience within the group that helps them to sustain and reinforce their activism. Further, the analysis gives insights into the group’s strategies, which are primarily aimed at at the state through the documentation and denunciation of LGBT arrests and the violence against the LGBT population. The analysis also shows that the group is dependent of contributions and assistance from fellow activists and allies. The group’s dependency is primarily explained by the constraining context it works in. Lastly, the analysis maps out the different dimensions of the group’s visibility. Here, I draw on Johnston’s (2015) perspective on covert and overt collective protest in authoritarian settings as I expand the traditional political opportunity structure to include GDMs multiple audiences. The issues related to the group’s visibility is drawn out through Jasper and McGarry’s (2015) concept of the identity dilemma. The finding of the thesis challenge the traditional assumption within social movement theory that collective protest is manifested publicly, arguing instead that covert activism is a necessity in a context where the political rights one is fighting for are criminalized. | eng |