While intersectional issues with climate change is a huge topic, this blog provides an insight into the relationship between the LGBTQ+ community and the fight for climate change and explores how we cannot fight against climate change without social justice.
The rainbow flag is now one of the most visible symbols of the LGBTQ community, but did you know that the green colour in the rainbow flag stands for nature?
Gilbert Baker, a US gay activist, who is thought to have created the rainbow flag in the late 1970s, stated that the flag was about ‘proclaiming power’1 and standing proud against the backdrop of social stigma and discrimination against homosexual people. The colour green represents nature itself but also that the LGBTQ+ community sits within this, and they are not unnatural, as they have so often been told throughout history.
In fact, over recent years, LGBTQ+ communities have been at the forefront of the fight against climate change. In 2011 a US market research company Harris Poll undertook a survey that indicates a clearly stronger commitment to the environment from the LGBTQ+ community than from heterosexual adults. Results showed that 45% vs 27% placed high value on a politician’s approach to green issues and that 55% vs 33% stated they cared greatly about green issues.2
Oppressed minority groups (such as LGBTQ+ people have historically been) are more than often those that face the brunt of environmental issues and are more invested in solving or mitigating them. For example, LGBTQ+ individuals are at higher risk of homelessness as continued homophobia, intolerance, and hate unfortunately still lead to breakdowns in relationships meaning people end up without shelter. According to Crisis UK, 24% of all homeless people in the UK are LGBTQ+.3 Meanwhile, the climate crisis extreme weather events from storms to heatwaves mean that they are then at higher risk of facing just how uninhabitable living on the streets is.
According to social historian Nancy C. Unger, the fact that LGBTQ+ people are members of an oppressed minority enables them to more readily identify oppressive institutional practices and to propose solutions to issues ranging from racism, and sexism to environmental destruction.4 The existence of dedicated groups such as Out for Sustainability (O4S) with their mission to provide a platform for co-creating climate resilience and environmental justice for and by LGBT communities demonstrates how this group is rallying together to collectively have a huge impact on climate activism.
Furthermore, The LGBTQ+ movement within the Extinction Rebellion UK, known as Rainbow Rebellion, is a powerful part of the organisation. Their recent work involved taking to the streets of London earlier this month to demand climate justice. As quoted on the Extinction Rebellion website, an activist at Soho stated that “If we reach a point of climate breakdown and social collapse, marginalised groups – like the LGBTQIA+ community – will experience increased discrimination and violence. Members of our community are already disproportionately negatively affected by violence, lack of access to healthcare, homelessness, and displacement, especially those with multiple marginalised identities. The fight for LGBTQIA+ rights will be so much harder if climate change leads to social collapse.”5
Other movements such as London’s Pride events have incorporated climate action into their events. In 2019 Pride in London, the UK’s most diverse Pride, declared a climate emergency with #NoPrideInEcocide. In addition, they have banned single-use plastics, glitter, and other harmful waste to move towards a zero-waste event.
It is clear the LGBTQ community has a dedication to fighting the climate crisis as it is inextricably linked to achieving social justice. Not only are there numerous networks and movements that are actively taking progressive steps in fighting for the protection of the planet, but in doing so they advocate for social justice and protecting the community as one of the groups that face the brunt of the climate crisis. To efficiently create a planet that is protected from climate change and safe for all, therefore, is to recognise the needs of other groups, as well as their contributions. Achieving climate justice and effectively fighting climate change then becomes a lot harder if we fail to pool together an understanding and appreciation of each other.
There are a number of ways you can support LGBTQ movements that are addressing the ecological crisis. You can support, follow, donate, and very importantly, advocate for these movements that are fighting not just for social equity but climate justice and saving the planet as well.
If you are an LGBTQ+ activist you may be able to make use of the LGBTQI Climate Fund to support work combatting the impact of the climate crisis on your community.
References:
1 Grovier, Kelly. ‘The history of the rainbow flag’. BBC Culture. [Date accessed 22.06.2022] Available from: https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20160615-the-history-of-the-rainbow-flag
2 Unger, Nancy, C. The LGBTQ+ Community: An underappreciated resource in environmental awareness and protection. [Date accessed 24/06/2022] Available from: https://blog.history.ac.uk/2021/01/the-lgbtq-community-an-underappreciated-resource-in-environmental-awareness-and-protection/
3 Crisis. Why are so many young LGBT people in Britain homeless? [Date accessed 24/06/2022] Available from: http://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/many-young-lgbt-people-britain-homeless/
4 Unger, Nancy, C. The LGBTQ+ Community: An underappreciated resource in environmental awareness and protection. [Date accessed 24/06/2022] Available from: https://blog.history.ac.uk/2021/01/the-lgbtq-community-an-underappreciated-resource-in-environmental-awareness-and-protection/
5 Extinction Rebellion. Rainbow Rebellion takes to the streets of Soho, London, to demand action on climate change. [Date accessed 24/06/2022] Available from: https://extinctionrebellion.uk/2022/06/18/rainbow-rebellion-takes-to-the-streets-ofsoho-london-to-demand-action-onclimate-change-%F0%9F%8C%88-%F0%9F%8C%8F/