Laira Rocha Tenca is a PhD candidate in Political Science at the University of Brasília, Brazil. She holds a Master’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from the Federal University of Paraíba and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations. Her doctoral research examines the politics of marriage equality in Brazil and Peru, focusing on how legislative processes, judicial rulings, and conservative mobilizations intersect in shaping democratic institutions. She is currently a visiting doctoral researcher at the University of Minnesota (2025–2026), supported by the BridgeUSA program, and has previously held a CAPES-funded doctoral exchange at Royal Holloway, University of London. Laira has also completed advanced training in sexuality, culture, and society at the University of Amsterdam Summer School. Beyond academia, she has produced award-winning short films and photography projects exploring LGBTQIA+ communities and lives. She has published on gender, sexuality, and human rights in Latin America and has been active in feminist and LGBTQIA+ collectives, coordinating initiatives recognized with a Human Rights Award in Brazil. At ICGC, she is affiliated with the Center on Women, Gender, and Public Policy and is especially interested in feminist institutionalism, political backlash, and transnational perspectives on democracy and rights.
Laira is in residence with ICGC during the 2025-26 academic year.