Are Openly LGBTQ2+ the New Sacrificial Lambs? Campaign Contexts and the Gendered Implications for LGBTQ2+ Candidates

Abstract Recent increases in the number of openly LGBTQ2+ candidates have not resulted a corresponding rise politicians elected to Canadian House Commons, reviving hypothesis “sacrificial lamb” candidacies. Drawing upon Lovenduski and Norris’ work on political recruitment, we analyze backgrounds experiences 172 who ran 2015, 2019 2021 federal elections Canada. Our approach is based idea that candidacies are new sacrificial lambs politics, although some them seem less likely be sacrificed than others. Indeed, highlight how electoral opportunities (for example, district competitiveness) afforded cis men more result success those women or gender minority candidates.