As Pride month comes to an end, we explore how climate change is affecting the LGBTQ+ community and what it’s doing to cope.
While climate change may not seem like an LGBTQ issue at first glance, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests that it does indeed have a significant impact on this community.
For one thing, LGBTQ people are more likely to live in coastal areas that are at risk of flooding and hurricanes. Queer people are also more likely to suffer from heat-related illnesses due to factors like poverty, homelessness and poor housing.
Climate change also exacerbates mental health problems like anxiety and depression. For instance, extreme weather events such as hurricanes and tornadoes disrupt the usual support structures that most queer people rely on.
The effects of climate change are felt differently by different members of the queer community.
For instance, queer people of color are more likely to experience the negative impacts of climate change due to factors like poverty and poor housing. In addition, trans and gender non-conforming people are at higher risk for heat-related illnesses due to hormone therapy and other medical treatments.
As we work to address this global problem, it is important to keep in mind the needs of this vulnerable group.
Article originally published on TheHomoCulture.
