The Voices for Environmental Change in the LGBTQ+ Community

By: Jacqueline Omdara

5 min readJun 8, 2021

June is Pride Month! This month is dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ voices, cultures, and showing support in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. Throughout the month of June, parades, protests, and performances are planned across the world to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and to uplift what has been achieved over the years.

Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, Pride events have been canceled worldwide however, this shouldn’t hinder us in celebrating this amazing uplifting community that represents a vast cross-section of people of different races, socio-economic classes, ethnicities, etc. In 1970, Pride began with the recognition of the Stonewall Uprising. There was an uprising against discriminatory laws, social treatment, and policing. Due to the resiliency and passion for change in the LGBTQ+ community, a lot has been accomplished regarding equity and diversity in our society.

Nevertheless, inequity is still greatly present. Specifically, when it comes to professionals in the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), individuals of the LGBTQ+ community face great discrimination in their workplace and/or at school. It was found in a survey taken of 37 transgender physics professionals and students, that more than 50% of the respondents face harassment, alienation, and exclusionary treatment. Despite this, many studies have found that over the last decade those who identify as queer have a greater concern for environmental issues as well as the current and future state of the environment -about 20% higher than heterosexuals!

Environmental Activists in the LGBTQ+ Community

There are so many amazing individuals who have a heart for advocating environmental issues and an integral part of seeking justice. Below are the thoughts of 4 inspiring environmental activists regarding various issues including animal rights, fast fashion, trophy hunting, and more. They discuss their prominent role in advocating for environmental change as individuals of the LGBTQ+ community.

Izzy (they/them/their) is a sustainable blogger and activist who predominantly advocates for sustainability in the fashion industry involving fast fashion and justice for mistreated supply chain workers. You can check their Instagram @muccycoud!

“The system we live in, which created the climate crisis, the one that seems to know only how to make the rich richer and over consume, is also a system that thrives on inequality and exploitation, and that includes the continued oppression and exploitation of LGBTQIA+ people.”

Christopher Sebastian (he/him/his) is a technical writer and copy editor who has a heart for emphasizing the role of intersectionality in activism as well as the importance of advocating animal rights. Check out his Instagram @the_christopher_sebastian!

“Queerness is just one part of my identity. I’m also Black, and I’m vegan. And for years I’ve really wanted to help people understand that the compartmentalization of identity by queerness, by race, by species (and more) does us all great harm.
“The fragmentation of identity and of knowledge itself separates us. Race, sexuality, gender presentation, and animality all share significant overlap with our understanding of environmentalism and the natural world.”
“[T]he importance of solidarity with just one more marginalised group is overlooked: the Animal.”

Konrad Juengling (he/him/his) is a social worker and animal rights activist, specifically for the preservation of animals. He hopes to prohibit trophy hunting imports and to stop the online market of foie gras.

“LGBT people have been forced to examine their lives and priorities from an early age, unlike heterosexuals, LGBT people often struggle with acceptance from others and have to make hard decisions about revealing their identities and values. I think examining one’s ethics and morals makes one more apt to being an environmentalist and caring about the Earth.”

Ayrton (he/him/his) is a senior campaigner for the Animal Justice Project. He strongly believes that intersectionality is crucial in the progression of any justice moment.

“Growing up queer inevitably gives you more understanding of groups who are oppressed in similar ways. We want to help and protect others and fight for what is right. Going against the mainstream is the only way to do this.”
“Without intersectionality, what are we really fighting for? We are fighting against oppression itself. It is oppressive behaviours that are at the route of many problems: racism, transphobia, speciesism, etc. If we come together to fight against this oppression, we should do it for everyone. As it is said, we are not free until all are free.”

There are so many ways to show support and to get involved. A great start is checking out these amazing resources listed below! These are just a few outstanding organizations that exemplify the involvement of the LGBTQ+ community in the action of advocating for environmental change. Let’s be the change and recognize that there is so much more we must do to educate ourselves so that we may enhance our skills in addressing the various environmental crises!

LGBTQ+ Environmental Organizations:

Out for Sustainability: LGBTQ organization for the social and physical environment

https://out4s.org/purpose/

O4S runs a number of initiatives including Greener Pride: Working toward carbon-neutral, waste-free Pride celebrations

https://out4s.org/greener-pride/

Venture Out Project: Bringing together queer people to experience the wilderness

https://www.ventureoutproject.com/

Queer Nature: Ecological awareness and place-based skills for healing marginalized populations

https://www.queernature.org/

Out There Adventures: Empowering queer youth to connect with the natural world

http://www.outthereadventures.org/home

LGBTQ Outdoor Summit: the opportunity for conservation leaders, the outdoor recreation community, and environmental groups to connect around the status of the LGBTQ community and the outdoors

https://www.lgbtqoutdoorsummit.com/

500 Queer Scientists: Visibility platform for LGBTQ+ and allies working in STEM

https://500queerscientists.com/

The Institute of Queer Ecology

https://queerecology.org/