Introduction: queer(y)ing justice

The lives of sexuality- and gender-diverse people around the world have, in recent years, changed dramatically. In some regions, political campaigns for social, criminal and legal justice have been characterised by increasing visibility and popular support, coupled with the removal of social inequalities and discrimination. However, in other regions, repression and discrimination have remained stable or even increased, and social gains have been promptly followed by conservative backlash. After the achievement of marriage equality in Australia, for example, this backlash took the form of a Religious Freedom Review, which has sought to protect the religious ‘freedom’ to discriminate against sexuality- and gender-diverse people. In the United States of America, too, the Supreme Court decision on marriage equality was followed, not too long afterwards, with a ban on transgender people entering the military, among other indicators of reducing acceptance of sexuality and gender diversity (GLAAD, 2018).