You may have noticed an abundance of rainbows decorating yards, logos, and products over the course of the past week. That’s because June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month, a time when we recognize and celebrate the positive impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. As a conservation organization, we know that issues of equality in gender and sexual orientation are in many ways closely related to conservation issues. In recognition of Pride month, we want to uplift the meaningful work of LGBTQ+ people in the environmental movement. Check out this post to learn about a few organizations doing just that.
OUT for Sustainability (OUT4S)
OUT for Sustainability (OUT4S) works to bridge the divide between queer identity and sustainability values. Their mission is to “reimagine our environment as we mobilize the LGBTQ+ community, in pursuit of a fabulous planet”. OUT4S was founded in 2008 on the basis that LGBTQ identity and sustainability are interconnected. Since then they have hosted more than 4,000 people at over 100 events in seven states. Learn more about OUT4S’s incredible work by visiting https://out4s.org/.
Rainbow Rebellion
Rainbow Rebellion is a branch of Extinction Rebellion UK specifically for LGBTQ+ activists to unite around climate change and mass extinction. Since data consistently shows that climate change and ecological collapse often impact marginalized communities first and worst, Rainbow Rebellion believes that these issues are inherently LGBTQ+ issues. They organize community members to come together and demand that decision-makers take immediate action on these issues.
The Venture Out Project
The Venture Out Project works to provide a safe and fun space for queer, trans, and LGBTQ+ people to experience the outdoors by leading backpacking and wilderness trips for the queer and transgender community. In addition to their focus on social justice and diversity, the Venture Out Project is also “committed to leaving the (natural) world a bit better than we found it”.