Stephenson, Elise2026-06-112026-06-112515-1088ORCID:/0000-0002-3977-8464/work/217152373https://hdl.handle.net/1885/733810670In among the silencing and invisibility of their stories, queer women operate as critical leaders in international affairs. They face multiple marginalisations: (1) challenging the archetypical diplomat or security leader as a heteronormative (white) male; and (2) operating in different cultural contexts with varying negative attitudes towards women in power and homosexuality in general. Providing both empirical and theoretical contributions to the fields of diplomacy, feminist and queer theory, this article gains unique access to Australian lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, and intersex diplomats and attachés to understand: what are the experiences of queer woman leaders in international affairs?.The author would like to acknowledge the kind help of her reviewers – your time, effort and guidance was much appreciated in the development of this article.The author would like to thank Professor Anne Tiernan, Associate Professor Susan Harris Rimmer, Dr Elizabeth van Acker and the Editors of this journal for their support. The author would also like to acknowledge and thank the participants, as well as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Defence, Department of Home Affairs and Australian Federal Police, for their support and access to data.17enPublisher Copyright: © European Conference on Politics and Gender and Bristol University Press 2020.DiplomacyGenderLesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, and intersexQueerSecuritySexuality202010.1332/251510820X1588061477455585092064678