Pride and Prejudices

Internationally acclaimed human rights lawyer Keio Yoshida uncovers the ongoing battle for LGBTQ+ rights, how far we've come, and how much further we have to go.

The right to life and the right to live life free from discrimination are rights that are codified and legally protected, but—unlike those on women's rights, disability rights, children's rights, freedom from torture, and racial discrimination—there is no dedicated and binding treaty or convention in international human rights law with respect to LGBTQ+ rights.

In Pride and Prejudices, Yoshida analyses case law from around the world, including Rosanna Flamer Caldera v Sri Lanka, the first global precedent to call for the decriminalisation of same-sex intimacy between women, in which Yoshida acted as counsel, as well as other timely cases such as the bitter debate over self-ID for trans people in the UK and Florida's recent 'Don't Say Gay' bill.

This pivotal book addresses the legal problems that still persist and contribute to the violence and discrimination that the international LGBTQ+ population experiences daily and demonstrates what more needs to be done to protect LGBTQ+ communities.

'This is a lovely book, in which the author accurately describes the legal battles against cruel and stupid judges and laws oppressing sexual minorities, intertwined with a moving account of their personal—and ultimately joyful—trans journey. It is a novel and powerful way of presenting the case for law reform, and can be recommended for reading by J.K. Rowling.'
— Geoffrey Robertson KC

'This outstanding book describes injustice to LGBTQI citizens in one corner of the Commonwealth, Sri Lanka. It should galvanise us all to address this issue worldwide.'
— The Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG

'Taking us on a journey from criminalisation and shame towards freedom and pride, Keio Yoshida shares their own lesbian-gender/queer story with law. While historically, our queer lives have been thoroughly endangered by law, Keio maps how this has begun to slowly change due to the courage of queer human rights activists and advocates around the world. The message is one of hope, despite the enormity of the legal prejudices that remain.'
— Dianne Otto, author of Queering International Law