There can be no exclusion if we are to effectively respond to climate change. No gender, race, social economic status, nationality/ethnicity, or religion can be excluded. We need all of us to stop the environmental harm we have unleashed and then we need all of us to begin to turn back that destruction. We do not have the luxury of familiar prejudices and supposed superiorities. While it may make some in today's political climate uncomfortable, we cannot exclude people on the issue of gender identity or sexual orientation. 

Allow me to take June or PRIDE month as an opportunity to expand on what is to be gained by enlarging the green circle, by welcoming our LGBTQI-A brothers and sisters into the environmental movement. First, let us acknowledge that even “welcoming” seems condescending. Nobody is asking for an invitation. The planet is hurting, our LGBTQ I-A brothers and sisters are already here making contributions.  The change needs to be with us, are we willing to work shoulder to shoulder with them, are we open to being allies, advocates, and students of this larger circle? 

Hopefully we greenies recognize the unique challenges each minority community meets in the larger environmental movement. We recognize the prejudice faced by Indigenous people, the discounting of their earth-focused wisdom by over-valuing Western scientific approaches and explanations. We recognize the prejudice of POC communities including food deserts, lack of resources, and lack of representation in nature activities. We acknowledge issues of safety for women involved in nature activities and underrepresentation in the natural sciences. All of these are simply the “tip of the iceberg” for challenges faced by minorities in the environmental movement. This is also true for members of the LGBTQI-A communities.  

Members of the LGBTQI-A community have been the victims of assualt, sometimes with fatal results because of their orientation or gender identification. The yearly number of reported assualts and hate crimes is documented and disturbing. In terms of inclusion into nature activity it may have a dampening effect. While much of the recorded assualts are in urban settings  a few well-documented cases were on hiking trails. These assualts are just a small percentage of the violence that the community has endured but they highlight issues of safty for members who are active on trails and in nature. 

I follow a 33-year-old transgender woman, Lyla “Sugar” Harrod  who is a serious thru-hiker. She hikes to highlight the issues trans hikers encounter. She addresses issues utilzing interviews and blog posts. This includes identifying critical issues for trans members considering hiking and practicle advice for hikers who want to be informed and supportive of hiking members of the trans community.  I have found her "Seven Tips" published in The Trek to be very useful.

The National Wildlife Federation addresses a number of issues faced by conservation members of the LGBTQI-A members being out in their professions.  This includes facing prejudice in the profession or being seen one dimensionally. It may include working in close quarters in the field for months with colleagues who might not be inviting. For naturalists doing research overseas the safety issues might be magnified. In a number of countries homosexual behavior is viewed as criminal and may result in prison sentences.  All of these circumstances requires a continual assessment of balancing personal safety with being one's authentic self. 

The National Wildlife Federation has provided a number of resources to address inclusivity and queer ecology. They include:
Queer Ecology: A Spectrum of Perspective
Queer Ecology: Relationships to Nature
Queer Ecology: Identity and Field Research
LGBTQ+ Young Leaders in Conservation

There are multiple links to agencies that provide safe, enjoyable nature experiences. The one I especially found interesting was Venture Out Project. All members of the "alphabet soup" community are involved in staffing, educating, and providing services to the community. For nature loving community members who might have felt over-looked the goals of Venture Out Projects must be refreshing:

We lead backpacking and wilderness trips for the queer and transgender community. 
We also conduct transgender inclusion workshops for educators, adventure professionals, summer camps and more!
Overnight Adventures For Adults, Youth & Families
Queer Day Events
Queer: We use this as an inclusive term for anyone who self-identifies as queer

The natural world or green movement is not limited to recreation. Queer farming, homesteading, and providing food are a critical part of the green movement. This is intersectionality at its most basic. Identity as a farmer, relating to a place as well as a community, being part of something basic are all important. Many of the people who identify as queer farmers did not grow up in farming communities. That means they had to learn about farming and in the process have brought with them new technqiues and approaches to farming. During a time of climate change innovation is important. During a time of dwindling family farms these independant farms, providing local foods, are an imporant alternative to idustrial farming.
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PRIDE is not a value to be cherised four weeks out of the year. It is a continual quest. This blog will not address inclusivity only in June. In the coming months we will be interviewing members of the community who are also active in nature. We look forward to sharing their stories. 

 

The Allen County Indiana Master Naturalist program introduces the future naturalists to a variety of topics. Geology, biology, interpretation, and safety were all included. Some topics were more specific than others. So, our students learned about trees and tree identification. They also learned about forests. Yep, they could tell the forest from the trees.  
 
The classes were often indoors utilizing Metea Park Nature Center, Fox Island Nature Center, and the Purdue University Fort Wayne Environmental Resources Center. The classes were also out of doors, among the plants, water, and animals. Several of our classes were held out of doors at Fox Island County Park. We learned about geology and how it impacted the land we currently visit. That included glaciers, torrents, and the formation of sand dunes. We walked through the varied landscapes of Fox Island. We encountered a tree that was almost 200 years old. We saw “ghost trees” or Sagamores and learned how they guided escaped slaves traveling the underground railroad. We saw “witch trees” who roots made root beer. The Sassafras trees were spectacular. We learned about wetland trees, trees who preferred drier soil. We learned that forests were dynamic and always changing. 
 
Dr. Jordan Marshall presented on forest ecology. He taught us at the ERC and then we used that information on our outdoor tours. Sadly, I find myself referring to his lectures more than I would like to. When we hiked Fox Island it was a spectacular park full of changing landscapes and wildlife. I had snow walked in the park. I attended lecture hikes on foraging taught by Carrie Vrabel. My children swam in Bowman Lake and gazed at the heavens with the Fort Wayne Astronomical Society. That all ended June 13th, 2022. The park along with northeast Indiana was hit by a derecho. Within twenty minutes 2000 trees were knocked down, the park was unrecognizable.  
 
Paths were unpassable. Trees kept falling for weeks after the event. The park is still closed, and the cleanup and restoration continue. As I walk the park with other volunteers, I find myself referring to Dr. Marshall’s lectures. “Succession, dynamic, change is the norm,” echos in my head. The history of the Maumee Torrent that occurred 14,000 years ago and destroyed everything in its way reminds me to hope. Life returned and it will again.  
 
The five videos presented in this post are of Dr. Marshall’s 2023 presentation on Forest Ecology. He is engaging. He has a gift for making complex issues seem a little less complicated. He is passionate about his work. He effectively prepares new Master Naturalists to address issues of change, competition, land management, and succession.  ​