Government entities boast of building an inclusive society, and yet insufficient resources are directed towards Queer communities in response to climate change as a present issue and strengthening safety nets needed for the crisis.Ĭlimate shocks also draw our attention to citizenship as a social status that can come into jeopardy resulting from forced immigration. These organisations are also faced with limited funding and resource capacity. As it stands, NGOs largely carry the responsibility of caring for Queer youth through homes, negotiating for access to education, employment, health, and legal services. Inaccessibility to housing, and by extension climate resilient housing translates to a compounded strain on shelters and psychosocial complications of belonging. Queer communities are vulnerable to homelessness because of discrimination and harm stemming from homophobia. Relying on global knowledge, a study by Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago revealed that LGBTQIAP+ youth are 120% more likely to be left homeless.
There are several socio-economic structures that inhibit communities from participating in climate change discussions.įrom a research perspective, insufficient resources have been directed towards engaging the communities across South Africa in understanding and responding to their specific climate vulnerabilities. However, despite this body of work, the presence of Queer communities as a demographic that needs to be catered for is slim. Countless points of views draw on indigenous practices, the role of responsible corporates, government, existing & developing infrastructures, civil society, community movements, environmental research to (re)imagine a future where humanity can survive the effects of climate change.
It is critical to look at the communities prioritised, and resources directed to action. What is clear are concerted efforts to prepare for a future that transforms us into a cohesive and sustainable society. Various experts and insights spotlight existing socio-economic inequalities and legacies in relation to climate action.
Sustainability practices along with its growing canon of knowledge, emphasise people in approaches to mitigation, resilience and adaptation as part of just transition efforts. In her book Reflecting Rogue, Professor Pumla Dineo Gqola reminds us that “when the LGBTI movement embraces the rainbow metaphorically, it is a gesture that refuses cooption, erasure and a deliberate political move to try to make difference link with freedom rather than annihilation.” With that, and cognisant of the attention on Pride Month, it is only fitting to highlight how climate change impacts Queer communities – to truly appreciate that this month is founded on protest and complexities faced.
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