The impact of climate change on LGBTQ+ couples
News
A new study has found that same-sex couples face greater risks from climate change-related threats compared to their heterosexual counterparts.
The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law reports that LGBTQ+ individuals tend to reside disproportionately in coastal and urban areas, as well as regions with substandard infrastructure and limited resource access, making them more susceptible to climate hazards.
According to ‘Advocate’, the study examined 15 counties with the highest percentages of same-sex couples; all were either coastal or urban, and several were economically disadvantaged, rendering them “less prepared to respond and adapt to natural hazards and other climate disruptions.”
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According to the study, climate change “exacerbates existing disparities among individuals and communities,” particularly affecting housing, healthcare, income, and food access. These disparities negatively influence disaster preparedness within queer communities.
“Given the disparate impact of climate change on LGBT populations, climate change policies, including disaster preparedness, response, and recovery plans, must address the specific needs and vulnerabilities facing LGBT people,” stated Ari Shaw, Senior Fellow and Director of International Programs at the Williams Institute.
The report urges policymakers and service providers to guarantee that disaster relief is “accessible and administered without discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.” This includes providing “safe shelters, access to medication such as HIV treatment, and financial support for displaced individuals and families.”
Shaw further emphasized, “Policies should focus on mitigating discriminatory housing and urban development practices, making shelters safe spaces for LGBT people, and ensuring that relief aid reaches displaced LGBT individuals and families.”
This research marks the first endeavour to compare the experiences of LGBTQ+ people with non-LGBTQ+ individuals regarding the adverse effects of climate change, highlighting the need for further studies to fully understand and address the observed disparities.
“Factors underlying the geographic vulnerability are crucial to understanding why same-sex couples are threatened by climate change and whether the findings in our study apply to the broader LGBT population,” added Lindsay Mahowald, Research Data Analyst at the Williams Institute. “More research is needed to examine how disparities in housing, employment, and health care among LGBT people compound the geographic vulnerabilities to climate change.”
Read related myGwork articles here:
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Owner of Patagonia Donates to Climate Change Organization
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