Out and Proud in the Field: Eco-Queers for Climate Adaptation

Abstract

Often depicted as extremely vulnerable and in need of help in an era of climate emergency, the LGBTQ + or “queer” community is rarely given a voice in adaptation plans and processes. Their unique ways and means of evaluating the root causes of climate-related problems and finding holistic solutions are also understudied by scholars and practitioners. Offering an in-depth qualitative analysis based on existing literature, official websites, published interviews, and news, this article demonstrates how nonbinary people from around the world organize online and offline activities to challenge heterosexuality and patriarchy as main obstacles to land, food, and climate justice. Acknowledging the agency of “eco-queer” populations and tapping into their adaptivity and productivity would nurture current theories and practices of human rights advocacy as well as environmental sustainability.