In an increasingly interconnected world, the introduction of same-sex marriage in numerous countries has had a profound impact on the lives of LGBTI individuals beyond their borders, even in places where homosexuality is illegal. The act of marrying a same-sex citizen of these nations now grants family migration rights to the non-citizen spouse. The research project "Marriage, Migration, and Sexuality: African Migrants in Interracial Same-sex Partnerships" (MARMIGSEX) seeks to delve into how same-sex marriage has emerged as a new and formal migration avenue for queer Africans. Specifically, it focuses on the phenomenon of same-sex marriage migration from sub-Saharan Africa, specifically Kenya and Ghana, to countries in the Global North (the USA and the Netherlands).
While in many Global North countries, the rising divorce rates and the increasing prevalence of children born out of wedlock, along with couples cohabiting without formal marriage, may suggest a diminishing significance of marriage, it has gained newfound importance for at least two distinct population groups: migrants and LGBTI individuals.
On the one hand, for migrants and aspiring migrants, cross-border marriage stands as one of the limited available pathways through which they can pursue their migration ambitions. As migration policies continue to evolve, becoming more selective and restrictive, marriage has become highly valued as one of the few options for international mobility. This holds especially true for those who do not fit into the privileged categories of migration, such as investors, highly skilled professionals, or students.
On the other hand, for LGBTI individuals, same-sex marriage has become a focal point of political contention and a top priority for the LGBTI movements. In Europe and the United States, LGBTI organizations have fervently advocated for the legalization of same-sex marriage, framing it as an issue of equality, often referred to as "marriage equality."
Both for migrants and LGBTI individuals, marriage has evolved into a means to assert their rights. However, governments have responded to the politicization of same-sex and cross-border marriages in different ways. On one hand, a substantial number of countries have expanded their definition of marriage to encompass same-sex couples and have liberalized family policies to ensure equality. On the other hand, most countries in the Global North have implemented various measures, such as income thresholds, civic integration requirements, and age limits, to regulate cross-border marriages and restrict marriage-related migration. These policies curtail the rights of spouses involved in cross-border marriages and, in many cases, deny couples the right to live together as a family.
This parallel development in most liberal democracies underscores a contradictory approach to marriage—one that is inclusive towards LGBTIs and exclusionary towards migrants. These two dimensions of the politics of belonging intersect in the regulation of same-sex marriage migration. Therefore, this project addresses a topic of pressing urgency and relevance for European and global politics.
