Queering Environmental Justice
Provided by: Yale School of the Environment|Published on: September 20, 2022
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Social Studies, English Language Arts, Health
Authors: Yale School of the Environment
Region: Global
Languages: English
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
- This article explains how LGBTQ+ individuals are more prone to environmental risks, face discrimination in receiving aid, and how the environmental justice community could benefit from including more LGBTQ+ people.
- This resource is a review of a scientific paper published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This short article gives students a summary of an academic journal article that explains the disproportionate impacts of environmental exposure and discrimination on the LGBTQ+ community.
- Students will gain understanding or perspective through reading.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should understand how certain groups face discrimination and how aid after environmental events is offered to populations.
Differentiation
- Cross-curricular connections can be made in health classes discussing health concerns after natural disasters.
- Social studies classes can discuss how various communities are impacted differently by natural disasters and how discrimination can affect those groups of people in a negative way.
- After reading, a class discussion about the link between discrimination and increased risks would be beneficial. Have students list other risks that could increase with discrimination and brainstorm steps that can be taken to lessen those risks or decrease discrimination.
- To increase empathy, consider having students participate in an activity where anyone with a particular eye color or shirt color is not allowed to have a treat that is offered to all other students. Then discuss the implications of not receiving clean water, food, or shelter after a natural disaster using the same criteria.
This resource underscores the impact of climate change on BIPOC and the LGBTQ community. Climate change decreases their socio-economic and health status disproportionately. On that point, there is an urgent need to address these inequities and explore sustainable ways to prevent social, racial, and environmental injustice. 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.
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