LGBTQ+ Environmentalists

For Change
Jun 30, 2022
5 min read

By Zaafia Alexander

Happy pride month! I think we can all agree: pride month + a feature of LGBTQ+ environmentalists = The Best Thing Ever (100% confirmed).

Today, I’ll be taking some time to show you – and feature – a handful of LGBTQ+ environmentalists that I know of (and you should too!) It’s important to note that the representation of marginalised communities – including LGBTQ+ members (especially POC) – is a crucial aspect in our progression of climate change activism and environmentalism as a whole.

Read on to find some passionate, change driven environmentalists!

Iris Zhan (they/them)

@irisszhan

Iris Zhan (they/them) is an 18 year old Chinese American climate change activist from Colombia, Maryland. They have been a climate activist since 2018. Iris co-founded Fridays For Future Digital and founded Sunrise Movement Howard County in 2019. They identify as queer, bisexual, nonbinary, genderqueer, asexual and trans.

You can occasionally find them spending their free time networking to connect with more youth activists, singing and dancing. Iris’ motivation for their work stems from their past positive experiences within their work, and their incredibly supportive community. You can find more of their work and their life on their instagram page!

River Somerville (they/them)

@0sodehiel0

“IF WE BUILD A SOCIETY BASED ON HONOURING EARTH, WE BUILD A SOCIETY WHICH IS SUSTAINABLE AND HAS THE CAPACITY TO SUPPORT ALL LIFEFORMS“

– Winona LaDuke

River Somerville (they/them) is a 17 year old Black environmentalist from Cheltenham, Pennsylvania. They have been into environmental action and education more formally since mid-2020. River co-founded Sunrise Cheltenham, which has shifted to become Cheltenham TREE (Teens for Racial and Environmental Equality), which is now on hiatus. They are the president of their school’s Organic Farm club and an active member of the environmental club, as well as co-chair on Cheltenham High School’s Student Council Environmental and Sustainability committee. They identify as agender, non-binary and trans.

River loves all things environment, history and art. They enjoy spending their time outdoors, listening to music and drawing – they even have an art page! River’s motivation originates from their radical optimism; the belief that we can shape a greener future and break our generation from paralysis into action. Additionally, they added that another pointer of their motivation or ‘anchor’ is, “Knowing that everyone can contribute somehow.” They then stated, as an inspiring conclusion, “We can use our stakes in the climate crisis and turn them into creative solutions.”

You can find more of River on their instagram page!

Aletta Brady (they/them)

@alettabrady

“WITHOUT COMMUNITY, THERE IS NO LIBERATION “ – Audrey Lorde

Aletta (they/them) is a non-binary, queer, writer, futurist, organiser and strategist from Dakota land in South Minneapolis. They are the founder of OCV (Our Climate Voices), a member of the US National Commission for UNESCO Youth Working Group, and a research fellow of the US Department of State Fulbright Program. Their education stems from South High School, Qalam wa Lawh Arabic Language Center, International Language Institute, Middlebury College, Wesleyan University, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Yale Law School.

They speak three languages (Spanish, English and Arabic) and are passionate in addressing pressing matters, such as: climate refugees, environmental migrants, social justice, conflict prevention, fresh water and natural resource sustainability. Their hobbies include biking and water skiing. Aletta’s motivation for their work derives from them understanding the impact it has on peoples’ lives – especially young people, POC, women and LGBTQ+ people, “Everybody has a climate story,” she said,”We think it’s really important to not just share the most extreme impacts, but also things that are maybe less life changing”

You can find more on Aletta on their Linkedin, Twitter and Instagram!

Jes Vesconte (they/them)

@jes.vesconte

“COMMUNITY IS THE HEART OF ACTIVISM AND ART IS LIKE A WARM FIRE THAT COMMUNITY GATHERS AROUND” – Jes Vesconte

Jes (they/them) is a nonbinary, queer, artist, activist, actor and Fullbright Scholar. Jes grew up in NY city and Philadelphia and in the US, they were most recently based in Los Angeles. Through Fullbright, they create art on climate change solutions at the Universität der Künsete in Berlin, Germany, in collaboration with scientists at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, which advises the UN IPCC and at the institute of for Advanced Sustainability Studies, where they are also an Artist Fellow.

Through art, Jes aims to incite critical understanding, insightful action, and international collaboration on climate solutions and ecological justice. Jes then added that their anchor/ motivation stems from their “embodied relationship with the world”. They said,

“ Here, embodiment means remembering that we are bodies within the ecosystems. It means taking physical actions that change material conditions to improve the wellbeing of people and ecosystems. “

Jes also mentions that integrating passions, like art making to activism can prevent burnout, because it ‘feels good’; activism doesn’t (always) necessarily have to be harsh and serious; one can cultivate a joyful and regenerative practice by prioritising community care and regenerative practice. Jes then suggested means of which people can practice this effort, such as: mutual aid, exercising, getting enough sleep, eating well, spending time with friends, dancing or making art.

You can find more of Jes and their work on their instagram page.

Tara Santos (she/her)

@santostara

“ GIVEN THAT THE PHILIPPINES IS THE SECOND MOST VULNERABLE COUNTRY TO THE EFFECTS OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS, IT WAS IMPERATIVE FOR ME TO FIGHT FOR THE PROTECTION OF NOT ONLY THESE NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS, BUT THE COUNTRY’S COMMUNITIES AND CULTURE THAT RELY ON IT GREATLY “ – Tara Santos

Tara Santos (she/her) is a 24 year old climate justice activist from Manila, Philippines. She currently acts as National Coordinator of Extinction Rebellion, and her personal research focuses on plastic pollution as a function of capitalism, colonialism, and classism. She also started Compulsive Colouring, an art initiative that raises funds for victims of climate disasters. She identifies as cisgender and bisexual.

Tara’s motivator in her work ethic stems from her grave desire to protect her home country. She has firsthand experience and knowledge on the havoc that wakes in the effects of climate change, “ I grew up watching my natural environments get destroyed by pollution, increasing numbers of typhoons and even development/ reclamation projects. ” She also adds that communities that are reliant on the environment are the same people that are severely affected the most, such as indigenous groups, fisherfolk and farmers.

Tara later revealed that, as her progression in her activism continued, the more she started to learn about the “multitudes of injustices happening to vulnerable communities”. Which, unsurprisingly, ended up taking a toll on her – and lead to burn out, something that many activists and environmentalists can empathise with. However, thankfully for Tara, her community sympathises with her efforts, the importance of showing a sense of vulnerability – and appreciating the significance/ happiness that ensues with life, “My community always reminds me about the significance of vulnerability, rest and finding joy, despite the difficulties that come with climate activism,” and, inspiringly enough, she claims that it, “Pushes me to continue to do this work in a truly sustainable way.”

If you’d like to see more of Tara, check out her instagram page!

Thank you to all these environmentalists for their work and initiative towards our planet!

Sources:

The information of these individuals was collected through personal connection and networking, with the one exception of Aletta Brady.

Aletta Brady:

https://www.alettabrady.com/ – ALETTA BRADY

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairealettabrady – Aletta Brady Linkedin profile

https://artsphere.org/interactive-programs/upbeat/inspirational-leaders/aletta-brady/ – asi Aletta Brady