ABSTRACT
This chapter undertakes to highlight the “messy” and “complicated” nature of secularism and its associated narratives. It starts by stating a widespread assumption, namely that secularism defends LGBTQ rights while religion opposes them. The model is scrutinized in light of relevant developments in contemporary Uruguay. Upon looking at the situation on the ground in other countries, however, matters become more complex. We look at pro-LGBT religious movements, secular states that deploy “political homophobia,” and the influence of transnational actors on the right and on the left. The chapter ends by imagining how the ideal secular state would approach the question of LGBTQ civil rights.
