Author: Lace Thornberg | Published: June 14, 2022 | Category: In the News
Anyone who cares about climate change, biodiversity loss and other environmental issues will at times feel overwhelmed. When you feel like you are shouting into the wind, it can be reassuring to know that you are not alone. In your community, in your state, across the country, and around the world, many people care just as deeply about these issues as you do.
We know this thanks to the people who are willing to join conservation organizations like ONDA, write letters to the editor, testify before Congress, and share their stories publicly in various ways.
Sharing your environmental concerns and values publicly involves some vulnerability for everyone, but, for some of us, putting ourselves out there as conservationists also comes mixed with an extra layer of identity politics to overcome.
As Emmeline Wang describes, in Tread Lightly, “If preserving the lands we love is of the utmost importance, staying silent and working as individuals is not an option. There are a multitude of systemic injustices, acts of violence and events that engender fear inside me as an Asian-American woman, but if stewardship stands at the forefront of immediate priorities, it’s time to stand up.”
This month, as we celebrate Pride and Juneteenth, we want to focus on sharing some inspiring stories about and by LGBTQIA+ and Black environmentalists who are working hard to see that the natural world is protected and preserved and can be enjoyed by everyone.
Articles
- 10 Black Conservationists Who Made History by Unity College
- 14 Inspiring Eco-Minded LGBTQ Folx to Follow on Instagram by Katie O’Reilly
- LGBTQ+ Environmentalists You Should Know About by In This Together
- Being Gay Outside by Kyle Groetzinger
- Tread Lightly by Emmeline Wang
Videos
- Reclaiming Conservation with Faith E. Briggs
- Whose Story Counts? by Dr. Carolyn Finney
- Black Ice film from Reel Rock
Books
- Planetwalker by John Francis
- Way Out There by J.R. Harris
We hope the commitment, bravery, joy and perseverance reflected in these stories inspires you to be a strong advocate for the desert public lands you love.