Why Climate Change Is an LGBTQ+ Issue
Articles/Websites
Grades9, 10, 11, 12Civics, English Language Arts
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Friends of the Earth
What it is
- This brief article examines how climate change has impacted the LGBTQ+ community, the connection between solving climate change and gaining rights for LGBTQ+ people, and how the LGBTQ+ community is uniquely equipped to fight climate change, citing examples of activists in Washington DC and discrimination in New Orleans.
- Students will learn that LGBTQ+ people are more likely to be severely impacted by natural disasters and that this community knows how to build solidarity and effectively advocate for human rights.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This article has a very broad geographical scope.
- This article highlights the distinct experiences of racial minorities within the LGBTQ+ community.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students need to understand why climate change leads to more natural disasters.
- Students need to have a basic understanding of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.
Differentiation
- This article could support a lesson on the social, economic, and political impacts of climate change.
- After reading the article, the teacher could lead a classroom discussion on why natural disasters impact some groups more than others.
- This article could enhance a classroom discussion about the critiques levied against capitalism.
- For government or civics classes, this article could supplement a mini-lesson about the Department of Homeland Security, its responsibilities during a natural disaster, and how this department has handled this responsibility in the past.
From the scientist review
This article discusses how and why climate change adversely affects the LGBTQ+ community. It also addresses how the LGBTQ+ community is a great resource and has skills that are key in the fight against climate change. The article does not dive into the science of climate change or details of oppression and its causes. However, the article links to other articles and is a great introduction to the topic of climate justice and how it relates to LGBTQ+ communities. Other resources may be needed, beyond linked articles, if any of the topics in the article want to be explored further. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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