Rainbow Cities Network
The Rainbow Cities Network (RCN) is a global network of cities that work together to promote and protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. Founded in 2012 by the cities of Amsterdam, Barcelona, Cologne and Turin, the network was registered as an independent organization on July 8, 2019.[1] Currently, the network has over 60 member cities from 22 countries, primarily in Europe.[2]
Recognition and status
The Rainbow Cities Network has observer status with the Council of Europe's Committee of Experts on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression and Sex Characteristics (ADI-SOGIESC).[3]
In 2015, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe adopted Resolution 380, which encourages local and regional authorities to "share examples of good practice with other local and regional authorities, for example through networks such as the Rainbow Cities Network."[4]
That same year, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Flavia Pansieri cited the network as an example of how local initiatives can transform national debates on combating homophobia and transphobia.[5]
Activities
The network's members work together by sharing good practices, establishing joint initiatives, and working on LGBTI policy development. An annual meeting is hosted by a member city every year, and an annual photo exhibition for the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) occurs on May 17.[1]
With financing from the European Commission, the network produced Rainbow Cities in Action: Policy Guidelines for Municipalities, a publication providing guidance for local governments on implementing LGBTI-inclusive policies.[6]
Governance
RCN member cities are represented by staff members of city administrations. The network is managed by a managing director and administered by a board of member cities. As of 2025, the board includes Hanover (Chairperson), São Paulo, Copenhagen, Mexico City, Cork, Paris, and Barcelona.[1][6]
Research
A 2025 study in the journal Global Constitutionalism examined the Rainbow Cities Network as a case of norm stabilization in international relations. The study identified three activities through which RCN contributes to preventing norm decay: supporting norms in discourse and practice, establishing connections between related norms, and including affected stakeholders in policy discussions.[7]
RCN is included in a 2025 dataset of 131 transnational municipal networks compiled by Pier Domenico Tortola.[8]
Members
As of June 2026, there are 62 member cities:[9]
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See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "About us – History". Rainbow Cities Network. Archived from the original on 2026-01-28. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
- ↑ "Liège, première ville wallonne à candidater pour rejoindre le réseau des villes arc-en-ciel". DHnet (in French). 2026-05-19. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
- ↑ "Sexual orientation, Gender Identity and Expression and Sex Characteristics". Council of Europe. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
- ↑ "Resolution 380 (2015): Guaranteeing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people's rights: a responsibility for Europe's towns and regions". Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. 2015-03-25. Archived from the original on 2026-02-15. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
- ↑ "Keynote address by Flavia Pansieri, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights". Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 2015-11-20. Archived from the original on 2026-01-20. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
- 1 2 "Rainbow Cities Network". Global Cities Hub. Archived from the original on 2025-05-21. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
- ↑ Loges, Bastian; Jakobi, Anja P. (2025). "Stabilising contested normative orders: how international city networks contribute to preventing norm decay". Global Constitutionalism: 12–14. doi:10.1017/S2045381725100166.
- ↑ Tortola, Pier Domenico (2025). "Mapping the landscape of transnational municipal networks". Cities. 159 105801. doi:10.1016/j.cities.2025.105801. hdl:11370/ad15fb22-8702-443b-8f8a-f8a7c09f6ae7.
- ↑ "The Rainbow Cities". Rainbow Cities Network. Archived from the original on 2026-01-28. Retrieved 2026-06-11.