Changes in personal life in recent decades illustrate significant socio-cultural transformations. However, the focus of mainstream sociological literature has been the heterosexual, monogamous and reproductive couple, with little research exploring non-conventional intimacy in Southern Europe.

INTIMATE’s main aim is to contribute to legal, policy and cultural innovation through the findings of a comparative, empirically-grounded, research project designed to rethink citizenship, care and choice from the point of view of non-standard intimacies in three contrasting Southern European countries: Italy, Portugal and Spain.

This general objective is twofold. It aims:
- to offer a comparative qualitative study of the legal, political and cultural context for LGBT intimate citizenship in Italy, Portugal and Spain;
- to explore the experiences of transformations in partnering, parenting and friendship based on the narratives of lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgendered people (LGBT).