Introduction

The Pride month just ended and kicks off a summer of celebration around the globe in honor of the Stonewall Riots of 1969. ^[ref] This series of spontaneous protests originated from a police raid on June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn where the police became violent toward LGBTQIA+ individuals. The riots are widely considered the watershed event that transformed the gay liberation movement and the twentieth century. ^[ref]

LGBTQIA+ are among the most exposed to climate change consequences

Every one of us is impacted by Climate change but its effect is not the same for all. Indeed the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), define how the most vulnerable and marginalized people will be affected more than others in the Climate crisis. The LGBTQIA+ community is a vulnerable group and consequently a hidden victim of climate change.

Already today, LGBTQIA+ individuals are uniquely vulnerable to the effect of climate change. Discriminatory housing policies, marginalization, poverty, and unemployment are pushing people who identify as LGBTQIA+ to live in segregated neighborhoods with lesser risk of harassment and more affordable housing: these neighborhoods are reportedly at higher risk of air pollution, floods, mudslides, and other climate-related consequences. Homeless populations are also some of the most affected by any natural disaster and also are clear victims of temperature rise and polluted air. Studies have shown that 24% of homeless youth in the UK identify as LGBTQIA+,  and 40% in the USA.^{[ref] [ref]} As for many other parts of the world, it is indeed more likely for LGBTQIA+ people to lose all their belongings, and jobs, or be chased out of home only because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

In times of crisis, marginalized groups are often excluded from receiving any kind of aid. For instance, same-sex couples may not receive relief support if they are not recognized as legitimate couples and nonbinary individuals fail to access gender-specific government services. During Hurricane Katrina, the data shows that transgender people suffered discrimination in emergency shelters, some of them were even driven away and rejected. ^[ref]

Climate justice means justice for LGBTQIA+ communities

As the roots of climate change are intertwined with the roots of multiple oppressions and inequalities, climate justice means justice for gender and sexual minorities.

Colonialism and capitalism are recognized as driving forces of the climate crisis due to the extractivist nature of both. ^[ref] They both are also recognized as rewarding conformity and threatening diversity of gender and sexuality. Therefore the fight against social injustice is also the fight against the forces that threaten biodiversity and the future of earth in its quest for profit. 

The more we recognize how many social issues are interconnected with global warming, and begin to work on solving all these systemic issues together, the stronger the movements become, and the better we can fight climate change. 

The green stripe on the rainbow flag represents nature

The green stripe in the flag represents nature, likely in both terms of our sexual and gender identities being natural, as well as the support of the environment. Indeed, the LGBTQIA+ community expresses higher concern for climate change, responding at 20% higher rate than heterosexuals, and historically organizations fighting for LGBTQIA+ rights joined forces with other fights against social injustice. ^[ref]

We see the same pattern with climate activism, with many leaders in the environmental movement being proud members of the LGBTQIA+ community. ^[ref] Just to name of few figures that paved the way; Rachel Carson is recognized as the mother of modern environmentalism, but few people know she was gay ^[ref] Harvey Milk was the first openly gay politician in California in the 1970s. He championed environmental sustainability alongside his fight for gay rights.

The LGBTQIA+ communities have decades of experience in activism and campaigning and today are utilizing this experience to also fight climate change. For example, activists in Washington DC disrupted Capital Pride in 2017, to demand that we reclaim Pride celebrations from the influence of banks and corporations. ^[ref] 

At Klimate we are fierce fighters of greenwashing and we logically encourage everyone to be vigilant to rainbow washing: Don’t let companies that are high polluters use pride month, targeted LGBTQIA+ campaigns and products, to rainbow wash their bad environmental practices. We encourage all LGBTQIA+ stakeholders to be precautious and investigate the true intentions of companies offering to sponsor or offering products targeting. When accepting these companies to rainbow wash their climate inaction, we are in extension letting them perpetuate the climate injustice that impacts disproportionately LGBTQIA+ communities. It’s a full cycle.

Conclusion

As it is proved, diverse teams are the most innovative, and this is what we need to fight climate change. Inclusivity is a core value at Klimate. We offer equal opportunities to people and ideas. We strive for collaboration, work to stay open-minded, and identify our biases to counter them. 

When fighting climate change, there is no compromise possible for climate justice, At Klimate, we believe the future is green and queer.

Authors: Simon Lauwerier, Eleni Adamopoulou, Angelo Fiorella