The Way Out: Justice in the Queer Search for Refuge - Book Launch
Dr Rebecca Buxton (University of Bristol) and Dr Samuel Ritholtz (University of Oxford)
Thursday, 12 February 2026, 5pm to 6pm
To be held at The Old Library, All Souls College. Registration is not required.
RSC Public Seminar Series, Hilary Term 2026
Series convened by Associate Professor Catherine Briddick and Dr Uttara Shahani
About this talk
The global refugee regime has shifted under our feet. Over the last forty years, international asylum practices have expanded to include the queer and trans displaced. At least thirty-seven countries now recognize LGBTIQ refugees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, with some states providing specialized support. Yet amid this expansion, backlash has intensified against refugee protection as well as the hard-earned rights of LGBTIQ people. In this disquieting context, the protection of LGBTIQ refugees remains partial and exclusionary.
The Way Out examines the complexities of queer and trans displacement around the world. Centring personal narratives of LGBTIQ refugees, the book exposes the shortcomings of an international protection regime that is unable to address the harms that drive displacement. Rebecca Buxton and Samuel Ritholtz's analysis of the stakes of queer and trans inclusion in accounts of displacement justice offers a vibrant example of theory brought to life.
About the speakers
Rebecca Buxton is Lecturer in Social and Political Philosophy at the University of Bristol.
Samuel Ritholtz is Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Politics at All Souls College, University of Oxford.
All enquiries should be directed to rsc-outreach@qeh.ox.ac.uk