Global acceptance of LGBTQ+ rights is increasingly polarized. This article explores how transnational advocacy networks and foreign aid conditionalities influence the diffusion of these norms across 110 non-OECD countries between 1990 and 2016.

### Data & Methods

Examines policy changes using longitudinal data from a comprehensive set of nations, employing quantitative analysis to assess exposure effects through both channels.

Exposure pathways:

• Transnational advocacy networks: Progressive groups pushing for norm adoption
• Foreign aid conditionalities: Donors imposing political requirements on assistance

### Key Findings

• States exposed to LGBTQ+ norms via advocacy show significantly faster policy liberalization (19.3% point increase)

• Countries more dependent on foreign aid demonstrate higher rates of norm rejection (20.7% points above baseline)

• The divergence between these two exposure mechanisms correlates strongly with different outcomes, with advocacy accelerating progressive change while aid conditionalities appear to encourage resistance

### Why It Matters

This research demonstrates how the source and mechanism of external influence shape policy responses toward LGBTQ+ rights. It offers crucial insights for international relations scholars interested in norm diffusion dynamics.