Written by Andrea Smith
The GREEN Program loves to celebrate love, and there is no better way to do that this month than by recognizing a few LGBTQ+ leaders and organizations that are making a difference not just in their own communities but for our planet altogether. Read below to learn more about some people and spaces that are working together to promote a better world that focuses on inclusion and equality.
LGBTQ+ Leaders:
Rachel Carson
Author of Silent Spring
Rachel Carson was an American marine biologist, writer, and conservationist who used her work to bring public awareness to environmental pollution. We all know ‘Silent Spring’ but did you know that this book was a founding attribute to the global environmental movement? The book ultimately led to the banning of DDT and other pesticides across the United States. Rachel’s works and accomplishments paved the way for the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and many other modern-day protections.
Harvey Milk
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
Harvey Milk was an American politician and the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, and one of the first in the United States. His work included promoting a legal framework that supports gays, including the passage of a gay rights bill. Harvey also spoke out on a local and national level about issues for the LGBTQ+ community as well as those for racial and ethnic minorities.
Pattie Gonia
Environmentalist Drag Queen
On a mission to build a more inclusive climate movement, Pattie Gonia is a drag queen and social media influencer working to build a better community for the queer community and mother nature. Pattie Gonia shares herself hiking, camping, or other outdoor activities both in and out of drag. Most of her drag fashion comes from nature, as she shows the world how Mother Nature knows no binaries. Follow Pattie Gonia on Instagram.
Rikki Weber
Legal Practice Manager at EarthJustice
EarthJustice is a non-profit organization that uses legal practices to fight climate change and protect both people and wildlife who are affected by it. Rikki Weber is a queer woman of color who has not only changed the game through this organization, but inside of it as well. She founded an LGBTQ+ group within EarthJustice to recongize fellow queer employees and other LGBTQ+ environmentalists.
LGBTQ+ Organizations:
OUT for Sustainability
Created by LGBTQ+ communities and for LGBTQ+ communities, OUT for Sustainability is a space for climate resilience and environmental justice. Their mission is to highlight connections between LGBTQ+ communities, sustainability, and justice through sponsored service projects, summits, and events across the U.S.
Our Climate Voices
Our Climate Voices focuses on communities and individuals who have been impacted by the climate crisis, by using storytelling to change the dynamic of the dialogue surrounding climate change. This organization works to put the voices of the individual at the forefront of their climate mission, with a strong focus on queer voices and LGBTQ+ activism.
Queer Nature
The environment exists for everyone, including the LGBTQ+ community. Queer Nature was founded to create an educational space for the queer community to connect with nature and learn ecological awareness and outdoor self-efficacy skills that they otherwise would not have access to. Their mission is to promote and expand upon the environmental education for LGBTQ+ people through nature awareness, ancestral skills, and justice-based learnings.
The Venture Out Project
The ability to have access and enjoy nature is very important, and something that is not offered to all communities. The Venture Out Project works to offer members of the LGBTQ+ community a chance to get outdoors and reconnect with nature however they see fit. Through outdoor activities like backpacking, wilderness trips, and workshops, The Venture Out Project strives to promote inclusion for all members of the community by starting from the ground up.
Thank you for taking the time to celebrate Pride Month with us! We are so happy to share these innovative leaders and organizations who are fighting for climate change and want to create a better future for everyone to enjoy. We encourage you all to research and learn more about LGBTQ+ leaders or organizations in your area!
TGP celebrates diversity and is an equal opportunity organization. We are strongly committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and seek stories from members of underrepresented groups, as well as those who share this commitment. For collaboration, please reach out to our team at [email protected].