How Climate Change Affects the LGBTQ+ Community
Provided by: EARTHDAY.ORG|Published on: September 19, 2022|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Social Studies, English Language Arts
Authors: EARTHDAY.ORG
Location: Earth
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 →
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 →
Synopsis
- In this article, the author explores intersectional oppression and activism in the interconnected environmental justice and LGBTQ+ rights movements.
- LGBTQ+ people are disproportionately affected by climate change through pollution, rising sea levels, and food and housing insecurity but their voices are often not heard.
- The author highlights environmentalism as an important part of the queer identity.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The resource highlights positive leadership and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community to environmentalism.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with social justice terms including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, cisgender, marginalization, disenfranchisement, discrimination, stigma, and intersectional.
Differentiation
- The quiz and factsheet links at the end of the article are an engaging way for students to learn more about climate-related topics and can be used to extend this lesson.
- The article mentions contributions by Harvey Milk to both the gay rights and environmentalism movements of the 1970s. Students can explore other influential figures in these movements, both historically and present today.
- Cross-curricular connections can be made with health classes, as the resource discusses the negative health impacts of climate change. Students can use this ebook or video to learn more.
- Other related resources include this list of LGBTQ+ climate activists and this article about the disproportionate impact of climate disasters on LGBTQ people.
The LGBTQ community is disproportionately at risk of the climate crisis. As a result, the environmental justice movement needs to be as inclusive as possible to address these inequities. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
