By Lauren Emer
Introduction
The first day of July marks the end of Pride Month and thus the end of the month-long celebration of the LGBTQQIP2SAA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Pansexual, Two-Spirit, Androgynous, and Asexual) Community. At STREAM, we want to continue this celebration and share resources to support our LGBTQ+ members and friends. While Pride Month ends at the end of June, our support and celebration of queer folx* is timeless.
* Folx (pronounced just like folks) is used to explicitly address typically excluded gender identities. While folks is a gender neutral way of addressing a group of people, folx is more “radically inclusive”.
Society for Freshwater Science and the LGBTQIA+ Community
In our home society, the Society for Freshwater Science (SFS), there is actually a higher representation of LGBTQ+ folx than in the United States population (Figure 1). Based on a survey from 2017, the percentage of SFS LGBTQ+ respondents was at the time, about double the percentage of LGTBQ+ population in the US (Abernethy et al, 2020). Abernethy et al have some suspicions as to why this number may be higher in SFS, such as higher survey participation by LGBTQ+ society members, however, I suspect the reason for this “overrepresentation” is actually related to the longstanding and plentiful connections between queer folx and the environment.
LGBTQIA+ and Environmental Connections
Historically, LGBTQ+ activism and climate activism have tended to overlap. Historical figures who led LGBTQ+ activism such as Audre Lorde (pictured in Figure 2) and Bayard Rustin, were also involved in climate activism. Even the “queen of environmentalism”, Rachel Carson, the author of Silent Spring and catalyst of the environmental movement, was in a secret romantic relationship with a woman. To this day, peer-reviewed research has demonstrated that LGBTQ+ folx are more likely to participate in environmentalist movements than their cishet (cisgender, heterosexual) counterparts (Swank, 2018). This representation in environmental movements could be because the LGBTQ+ community, much like poor communities and communities of color, are more likely to face environmental injustice (Collins et al, 2017). Further, even if queer folx are not facing environmental injustices themselves, they may be “more aware and less accepting of social inequalities”, resulting in collective action (Swank, 2018). Pro-environmental behaviors and action may lead more queer folx to an environmental career. Despite these connections, LGBTQ+ individuals are still underrepresented in science and face barriers in their careers and academic journeys (Freeman, 2018).
LGBTQIA+ Spaces and Intersectionality
LGBTQ+ spaces for community building and safety are growing in environmentalism, academia, and even the Society for Freshwater Science. See the list of resources at the end of this article. These spaces are important for fostering a sense of belonging for queer folx. While even the creation of these groups is a huge step, many have a similar problem: Queer spaces tend to be overwhelmingly white. This underrepresentation of People of Color (POC) in LGBTQIA+ spaces is particularly troubling considering Queer and Trans Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (QTBIPOC) face more discrimination than White, non-Hispanic LGBTQ+ folx. Further, about half of LGBTQ+ adults in the US are POC (LGBT Demographic Data Interactive, 2019), meaning that LGBTQ+ spaces should be about half POC. There are many, differing, and personal reasons as to why POC are not as present in LGBTQ+ spaces as white folx. Regardless of those reasons, we must amplify voices of QTBIPOC especially regarding issues like discrimination and violence that disproportionately affect them. Without the voices of Black and Brown Trans and Queer Folx of yesterday, we would not have the LGBTQ+ rights of today. QTBIPOC continue to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in spite of discrimination. In response to the “whiteness” of queer organizations and spaces, many POC have created their own organizations and spaces (see these organizations below).
STREAM wants to create a space for QTBIPOC SFS members and environmental professionals alike. If you identify as both a person of color and a member of the LGBTQ+ community and are interested in being part of such a group, please fill out this form.
Resources
Educational: Pride 101
Pride history, highlighting the Black and brown leaders of the LGBTQ+ Movement
Where did “pride” come from? Origins of the word pride and its use in the LGBTQ+ Movement/ Celebration
POC & LGBTQIA+ Organizations
National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network "is a healing justice organization actively working to transform mental health for queer and trans Black, Indigenous and People of Color (QTBIPOC)."
National Black Justice Collective "mission is to end racism, homophobia and LGBTQ+/SGL bias and stigma."
National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance “serves as a convener of community leaders and groups: prepares leaders to challenge systemic injustices; and advocates for LGBTQ+ AANHPI liberation across the US and its territories.”
Directory of Two Spirit, Indigiqueer, and Indigenous LGBTQPAI+ organizations by location
TransLatin@ Coalition “advocates for the specific needs of the Trans Latin@ community that resides in the USA and to plan strategies that improve our quality of life.”
Directory of Resources for LGBTQ+ Youth of Color Nationally and by State
LGBTQIA+ Environmentalist Organizations
Out for Sustainability“provides a platform for co-creating climate resilience and environmental justice by and for LGBTQIA+ communities… through advocacy, training, fundraising, and relationship-building.”
Queers x Climate is “an international organization dedicated to unite and support climate and LGBTQ+ activism to develop and implement solutions for our common global climate crisis.
Queer Ecojustice Project “organizes at the intersection of ecological justice and queer liberation. We are storytellers weaving together the threads of a complex, multidimensional story of queer survival and collective ecological futures through collaborative projects that aim to catalyze culture, consciousness, and community. “
LGBTQIA+ STEM/Academic Organizations
oSTEM “is a non profit professional association for LGBTQ+ people and allies in the STEM community… empowers LGBTS+ people in STEM to succeed personally, academically, and professionally by cultivating environments and communities that nurture innovation, leadership, and advocacy."
Queer Ph.D. Network (Facebook)- “ is a space for LGBTQAI graduate students and academic professionals to share resources, build networks through social media, and discuss LGBTQAI issues, topics, and trends in higher education.”
Out Professionals is “the leading nonprofit networking organization for LGBTQ professionals in the USA."
500 Queer Scientists is “ a visibility campaign for LGBTQ+ people and their allies working in STEM and STEM-supporting jobs - a group that collectively represents a powerful force of scientific progress and discovery”
Scholarships
Point Foundation “offers scholarships for LGBTQ+ and ally students attending accredited colleges and universities in the US. Point scholarships support community college, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students.” Point also “ provides leadership training, mentoring and community”
Prism Foundation is “dediated to exploring critical issues that affect the asian & pacific islander LGBTQIA+ community and supporting innovative programs and individuals seeking solutions to those issues. We provide academic scholarships to non-traditional API LGBTQIA+ students and core funding to under-resources and underrepresented local community organizations and projects.”
Pride Foundation is an “LGBTQ+ community foundation serving the northwest region of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington”
Acorn Equality Fund supports [Illinois based] "LGBTQ+ persons, organizations, and allies through scholarships and organizational grants”
eQuality Scholarships Collaborative “awards scholarships to honor and encourage northern and central California students for their service to the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender community."
About the author....
Lauren (she/her) is a Queer Person of Color, PhD Candidate, interdisciplinary environmental scientist, SFS member, and STREAM founding member.
References
Abernethy, E., Arismendi, I., Boegehold, A., G., Colón- Gaud, C., Cover, M.R., … Woller-Skar, M.M. (2020). Diverse, equitable, and inclusive scientific societies: Progress and opportunities in the Society for Freshwater Science. Freshwater Science, 39(3): 363-376.
Collins, T.W, Grineski, S.E., & Morales, D., X. (2017). Sexual Orientation, Gender, and Environmental Injustice: Unequal Carcinogenic Air Pollution Risks in Greater Houston. Annals of the American Association of Geographers, 107(1): 72-92.
Freeman, J. (2018). LGBTQ scientists are still left out. Nature, 559, 27-28.
LGBT Demographic Data Interactive. (2019). Los Angeles, CA: The Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law.
Swank, E. (2018). Sexual identities and participation in liberal and conservative social movements. Social Science Research, 74: 176-186.
