Gender, sexuality and human rights
Although globally there has been unprecedented progress in recognising the rights of LGBT people, there has also been a coeval rise in popular, cultural and political homophobia in many parts of the world. Professor Baden Offord is a specialist in human rights, sexuality and culture, and has written extensively in this area. His research contributes theoretically and methodologically to ways of understanding how LGBTIQ human rights are negotiated in activist contexts, institutionally and, importantly, in everyday life. Baden is a member of the international advisory board for the Palgrave Macmillan research book series, ‘Gender, Sexualities and Culture in Asia’.
Current projects include:
Finding Metis: Women’s Stories of Resistance and Resilience through Intimate Abuse and Violence Dr Marilyn Metta (2020 – continuing)
Finding Metis is a new research project on women’s lived experiences of intimate abuse, violence and coercive control. The book aims to bring together culturally diverse women’s stories, voices and experiences of resistance, survival and resilience through intimate abuse and family violence. The primary aim of the project is to bring together culturally diverse women’s lived experiences of resistance, survival and resilience through intimate abuse and family violence. The research project aims to better inform how we as a community can create a safe environment for women and children regardless of their backgrounds. The project also has the potential to inform service-providers, policy-makers, educators and researchers who working in the field so that they can better respond to the experiences and needs of women and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Metis: A Creative Theatre Production Dr Marilyn Metta and A/Prof Leah Mercer, MCASI (2016 – continuing)
Metis is a new creative production theatre project that weaves the ancient mythological story of the Greek Goddess Metis and her bodily intelligence and feminist autoethnography into a contemporary narrative of resistance for women who have experienced intimate abuse and violence. In 2018, the project received the Creative Development Program grant of $14,950 from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) Culture and the Arts (WA). A successful pilot showing of Metis was performed at The Blue Room Theatre in June 2018 to an invited audience. The project is currently seeking funding for the development of a full production and a national and regional tour.
Australia as an ally: Building human rights and social inclusion frameworks for LGBTIQ populations in our region Prof Baden Offord (2015 – 2019)
Research partners: Associate Professor Paula Gerber, Monash University; Associate Professor Anthony Langlois, Flinders University and Dr Cai Wilkinson, Deakin University, together with the Australian Human Rights Commission.
This project will provide a strategic framework for the Australian government to engage in protection and promotion of rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in South and Southeast Asia and the Pacific