Queer and transgender communities experience environmental injustice based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC), but are largely left out of structural policies and planning related to environmental health. Environmental justice is predicated on the equal inclusion of all communities in policies and planning, dismantling structural racism, and the equitable distribution of environmental benefits. Environmental justice advocates have drawn attention to the inequitable distribution of environmental exposures and associated health outcomes based on race, ethnicity, indigeneity, and socioeconomic class. Limited research studies suggest the 2SLGBTQIA+ population experiences systemic discrimination that could lead to environmental injustices and higher exposure to environmental hazards. Multiply-marginalized 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, such as those who are people of color, indigenous people, or people with disabilities, deal with synergistic impacts of systemic discrimination leading to worsened physical and mental health outcomes following exposure to environmental hazards. Environmental justice for queer communities requires incorporating gender and sexual identity in our efforts to create equitable policies and research.
Discrimination within Social Institutions
2SLGBTQIA+ communities experience discrimination leading to social, economic, and health disparities that place them at an increased risk for environmental injustices. Discrimination takes many forms and is often perpetuated by institutions that center non-2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and create barriers to access.
The landmark Bostock v Clayton County case established that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act applies to 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, making employment discrimination illegal. Complaints have notably increased since the ruling. The Center for American Progress (CAP) found that in 2022 approximately 50% of 2SLGBTQIA+ adults experienced workplace discrimination such as “being fired, being denied a promotion, having their work hours cut, or experiencing verbal, physical, or sexual harassment.”
2SLGBTQIA+ communities endure an immense amount of discrimination in healthcare. For example, the CAP found that 34% of transgender people of color had to teach their provider about their gender identity to receive care and 20% were refused care by a provider based on religious beliefs. 2SLGBTQIA+ communities are also more likely to not seek out preventative care due to discrimination.
Systemic discrimination leading to high exposures to stress, financial precarity, and lack of access to affirming health care results in greater vulnerability to environmental health risks and outcomes.
Queer Communities Experience Environmental Injustice
There are multiple pathways through which 2SLGBTQIA+ communities can experience disproportionate environmental burdens. Health outcomes that are more frequent in 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, such as some cancers, HIV, respiratory illnesses, and cardiovascular disease are associated with environmental exposures or can be worsened by environmental exposures.
Air pollution and disasters are two of the many pathways through which 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals may be at higher risk from environmental hazards. Using Census data, researchers found that neighborhoods with a higher proportion of same-sex couples have a higher amount of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) compared to neighborhoods with predominantly opposite-sex couples. This is true even when controlling for race/ethnicity and socioeconomic class. Exposure to HAPs is associated with a higher risk of several types of cancers and respiratory illnesses in same-sex couples. Housing discrimination and poverty may contribute to why same-sex couples live in neighborhoods with higher levels of HAPs. More research is needed to understand how air pollution is distributed in these neighborhoods and whether this holds for all 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.
In 2023, the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA) named sexual and gender minorities at high risk for negative impacts due to climate-related disasters.
The NCA is the federal government’s premier report on climate science and impacts. A recent analysis found that 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals are more likely than non-2SLGBTQIA+ individuals to be displaced after a disaster. This is especially true for 2SLGBTQIA+ people of color. In addition to individual homophobia and transphobia, policies and relief organizations that prioritize non-2SLGBTQ+ individuals are partially to blame for these disparities. Wealth inequality is often exacerbated in areas that receive FEMA aid because FEMA historically prioritized wealthy white individuals. Similarly, federal, and most state and local regulations do not explicitly mention “SOGIESC.” The lack of attention to gender and sexuality is particularly important in regulations such as the Stafford Act, used for federal response and relief, and Title VI used for environmental justice activities.
Ignoring the unique needs of LGBTQ+ communities invites federal and federally-funded agencies to potentially discriminate against 2SLGBTQIA+ populations, with limited options to submit grievances.
Even under favorable political conditions, the majority of response and relief organizations are faith-based. Some faith-based organizations have blamed 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals for disasters. In nine US states, including those at high risk for disasters, health professionals can refuse service to 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.
Other pathways to environmental risk include indoor air quality and exposure to secondhand smoke. 2SLGBTQIA+ people are more likely to be employed in occupations with environmental hazards. For example, K-12 teachers complain of mold and respiratory ailments, particularly in the Northeast. 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals are also more likely than non-2SLGBTQIA+ individuals to smoke cigarettes. Higher rates of smoking are due to multiple factors, including discrimination, targeted tobacco advertisement campaigns, and gender stereotypes. 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals are more likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke from partners or LGBTQ+ bars. This creates a higher risk for lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke which can be further exacerbated by air pollution or disasters such as wildfires and extreme heat.
Inclusive Environmental Policies and Research
Given the multiple pathways to disproportionate environmental exposures and health outcomes in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, it is critical to have equitable and justice-oriented policymaking and research to reduce negative health outcomes. To achieve environmental justice for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, we recommend:
- Include, expand, and define gender in environmental policies, guidance, data, and safeguards to be more inclusive towards 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals including transgender women, transgender men, queer women, and non-binary individuals. In addition, these considerations should be intersectional by including race/ethnicity, ability, and indigeneity.
- Include sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics within anti-discrimination protections in the Stafford Act, Title VI, and other federal, state, local, tribal, and institutional policies and guidance that relate to the environment.
- Collect environmental SOGI data anonymously and voluntarily, co-created with diverse 2SLGBTQIA+ experts and community members. This data could be invaluable for both researchers and advocates for understanding needs, gaps, processes of discrimination in these situations, and equitable and inclusive solutions.
- Include 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, especially those with multiple marginalized identities, in planning and policymaking. For example, the city of Minneapolis promotes racial and gender equity by appointing community members to their respective city and Park and Recreation advisory board. They provide input and feedback to policies, activities, and programs. Elected officials can extend equity considerations to queer populations.
- Include 2SLGBTQIA+ analysis within environmental research where possible. There should also be a direct effort to recruit more 2SLGBTQIA+ academics and researchers in this field.
Over 500 anti-2SLGBTQIA+ bills have been introduced into US state legislatures since the beginning of 2023. Hate crimes have risen in conjunction with the increase of anti-2SLGBTQIA+ bills. While we cannot yet predict the full impact, the mounting attack on 2SLGBTQIA+ communities will likely have lasting environmental health consequences for 2SLGBTQIA+ people. Simultaneously, climate emergencies are becoming more frequent. To prepare for these twin emergencies, policymakers and researchers need to adopt an environmental justice lens that includes SOGIESC.
