Any opinions stated herein are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily representative of or endorsed by the Climate Policy Lab, The Fletcher School, or Tufts University.
For those of us in the US who crave the normalization of public queerness, and the safety and accessibility that we hope will accompany this normalization, it is tempting to be moved by the participation of these unlikely partners. Indeed, the overwhelming message of our for-profit sponsors is that they are strong allies in the battle for human rights and dignity for LGBTQ+ people around the globe. Somehow, we remain unconvinced.
Read MoreDespite significant achievements in recent years for the protection and provision of equal rights for LGBTQI+ people, there are still significant barriers to full inclusion in society. Around the world, LGBTQI+ issues are often co-opted by political parties and used to stoke anxieties about national or cultural identity, Western influence or other social, economic or political challenges. LGBTQI+ individuals also face barriers to housing, education, medical care and other critical services, while social stigma serves to isolate them from their family and community. In the United States alone, LGBTQI+ individuals, particularly youth and transgender people, are estimated to make up nearly 40% of those experiencing homelessness, making them even more vulnerable to things like substance abuse, depression or anxiety and assault.
Read MoreRecent Fletcher grad Katy Constantinides discusses how queer liberation is intrinsically tied with environmental justice in the first blog post of CIERP’s 2022 Pride Month Blog Series.
Read MoreRishikesh Bhandary discusses how Pride Month gives us an opportunity to reflect on how the wider struggle for LGBTQ+ equality may inform our work on climate change. There are some striking parallels that I discuss below including the acceptance of the reality of climate change, the need for broad coalitions, and the zig-zag trajectory of progress.
Read MoreFletcher MALD student Katy Constantinides discusses how queer ecology can assist us in creating a more sustainable future in the second post of CIERP and CPL’s Pride Month series.
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