Diego Garcia Rodriguez

Diego Garcia Rodriguez is a British-based researcher, scholar, and consultant specialising in gender and sexuality studies, religious studies, queer asylum, and intersectional stigma, with particular expertise in the lives of LGBTQ+ Muslims, refugees and people seeking asylum. His work spans academic research, teaching, and consultancy, covering a wide range of socio-political issues affecting marginalised communities worldwide.
==Early Life and Education==
Diego Garcia Rodriguez completed his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the Complutense University of Madrid, where he graduated with distinction and participated in exchange programmes at Korea University and the University of Tampere. He later pursued an MSc in Asian Studies at Lund University, achieving a distinction with a dissertation on queer Muslim identity in Indonesia. In 2020, Diego obtained his PhD in Gender and Sexuality Studies from University College London, focusing on the intersection of Islam and queer identities in Indonesia. His dissertation, titled Qu(e)erying Islam, was supported by the ESRC UBEL DTP Scholarship and completed without corrections.
==Academic Career==
Diego is a Leverhulme Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham's School of Sociology and Social Policy. His ongoing research investigates the experiences of LGBTQ+ religious refugees and people seeking asylum in the UK, aiming to provide policy recommendations for the UK Home Office. His participatory research model considers ethical engagement, participant recruitment, and stakeholder collaboration, producing a range of outputs including a book, journal articles, and a podcast.
Diego's previous roles include working as a Lecturer in Global Health and Research Associate in HIV and Social Science at the University of Sussex, where he studied the experiences of people living with HIV in Brighton. He has also taught various courses at UCL, BSMS, and elsewhere, covering medical anthropology, intersectional stigma, and qualitative research methods.
==Research and Publications==
Diego's research explores the complex intersections of sexuality, religion, migration, and public health. His published work includes the 2023 book Gender, Sexuality, and Islam in Contemporary Indonesia: An Exploration of Queer Muslims and their Allies and numerous peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Sexualities and International Migration. He has also contributed book chapters to major academic volumes, addressing queer religious identities and trans politics.
Diego is the co-editor of a forthcoming special issue on religion and queerness in the Journal of Gender Studies and has peer-reviewed for several high-impact journals.
== Queer(y)ing Asylum Symposium ==
In 2023, Diego Garcia Rodriguez founded the Queer(y)ing Asylum Symposium at the University of Nottingham, focusing on the intersection of queer identities, migration, and asylum. The inaugural event achieved great success, attracting scholars, activists, and practitioners interested in advancing the discourse around LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and their unique challenges.
The 2024 symposium is set to take place at the University of East London and will be co-organised by Garcia Rodriguez and scholar Sonia Quintero. This year’s event features a diverse panel of speakers from countries including the United States, Japan, Lebanon, Italy, and Mexico, reflecting its growing international impact. With presentations from academics, NGO leaders, and LGBTQ+ advocates, the symposium aims to create a global platform for knowledge exchange and support for queer asylum seekers.
==Key Research Projects==
* LGBTQ+ Religious Refugees and Asylum Seekers in the UK (Leverhulme Trust, 2023–2026): This project examines the experiences of LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and their interactions with UK immigration policies, focusing on religious and spiritual dimensions.
* The PEDAL Study (BSMS, 2021–2022): This research involved interviews and focus groups with people living with HIV in Brighton, contributing to strategies for improved health service provision.
==Consultancy and Non-Academic Work==
Beyond academia, Diego has held consulting roles with various organisations, including Justice Studio, where he led evaluation and research for international organisations and institutions including FCDO, the EHRC, Womankind Worldwide, and many others. He has also worked with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, investigating the impact of COVID-19 on LGBTQ+ individuals in Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.
In 2023, Diego contributed to the design of a queer mental health peer support programme with Southeast London Mind. He has worked internationally as an intervention facilitator with Kaleidoscope International Trust, focusing on stigma and discrimination in Ghana, Nigeria, and the Caribbean.
==Honours and Awards==
* Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship (2022): Project on LGBTQ+ religious asylum seekers, awarded £378,940.
* University of Nottingham LGBT Fund (2023): Created podcasts with LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers.
* BSMS Public Engagement Award (2023): Developed a forum on trans-inclusive language in healthcare.
==Conference Presentations==
Diego regularly presents at international conferences, including recent talks at the Queer(y)ing Asylum Symposium and the European Geographies of Sexualities Conference. His presentations address themes of homosecularism, queer migration, and HIV stigma.
==Personal Life==
Originally from Spain, Diego now resides in London. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and Bahasa Indonesia.
Category:1989 births
Category:Researchers
Category:Scholars
Category:Consultants
Category:British people