GenIUS Annual Conference 2026: Trans Rights — The Difficult Path Towards Equality
GenIUS - Rivista di studi giuridici sull'orientamento sessuale e l'identità di genere.About GenIUS
GenIUS – Rivista di studi giuridici sull'orientamento sessuale e l'identità di genere – is Italy's peer-reviewed law journal on sexual orientation and gender identity, recognised as a Class A scientific journal by ANVUR (Italy's national research evaluation agency). Founded in 2013/14, it publishes double-blind peer-reviewed contributions in Italian and English on the legal dimensions of gender and sexuality.
About the Conference
GenIUS invites submissions for its Annual Conference 2026, dedicated to the evolving and critical field of trans rights, under the theme "Trans Rights: The difficult path towards equality." The conference will bring together scholars, practitioners, activists, and policymakers to explore legal, social, and theoretical perspectives on trans identities and rights, welcoming contributions from law as well as its intersections with sociology, political science, philosophy, and gender studies.
The conference will be held entirely online on Friday, 27 November 2026, with AI-assisted live translation and captioning available so participants may present in a range of languages.
Suggested Topics (Non-exhaustive)
- Growing anti-gender movement and organised backlash against trans rights
- Democratic participation and civic space
- Trans communities in humanitarian emergencies
- Legal recognition of gender identity
- Anti-discrimination law and trans equality
- Trans rights in comparative and international law
- Healthcare access and bodily autonomy
- Trans rights, AI and emerging technologies
- Intersectionality and marginalisation
- Human rights frameworks and litigation
- Migration, asylum, and trans experiences
- Labour, education, economic justice, and social inclusion
- Emerging challenges and future directions
Submission Guidelines
- Submit an abstract of max. 300 words by Friday, 17 July 2026
- Indicate your preferred pronouns and the name you would like to be called (no requirement to state birth names)
- Send submissions to giada.cascio@unipa.it
Post-Selection Requirements
Selected speakers will be asked to submit an extended abstract prior to the conference, with full papers due by the end of 2026. Accepted papers will be considered for publication in the 2027 volume of GenIUS.
Conference Organisers
- Guido Noto La Diega (University of Strathclyde)
- Michele Di Bari (Università di Padova)
- Erika Castellanos (GATE NGO)
- Giada Cascio (Università di Palermo)
- Andrea Ruggeri (Gruppo Trans APS)