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As the world looks to build back better and greener, GiveOut’s world-first Climate Fund will support LGBTQI activists working around the world to help tackle the climate crisis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown on a global scale that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) people are disproportionately affected in crisis situations. But the pandemic may prove to be a dress rehearsal for the greatest challenge of our time: the climate emergency. 

Research by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change shows that people who are marginalised – including those facing discrimination – are especially vulnerable to climate change.

GiveOut projects that LGBTQI communities will be among the most vulnerable to the direct impacts of climate change related natural disasters and to longer-term consequences including service disruption, forced displacement and even conflict. This will be the case, especially for LGBTQI people in countries that are most threatened by climate change and where LGBTQI identities are also illegal or repressed.

In response to these challenges, LGBTQI organisations around the world are: 

• Undertaking ground-breaking research into the impact of the climate crisis on LGBTQI communities to build the evidence base about the scale and immediacy of this threat;

• Advocating for the needs of LGBTQI people in emergency situations, including in forced displacement settings and in partnership with humanitarian organisations;

• And engaging with governments, international bodies, businesses, and others around responses to climate change to ensure that their communities are not left behind.

With half-a-century of experience and success, the LGBTQI movement has much to contribute to the movement for climate justice, ensuring that those most vulnerable to climate impacts are at the heart of work to address them.

The LGBTQI Climate Fund provides an opportunity for individuals and businesses to support ground-breaking work at the intersection of LGBTQI rights and climate change, ensuring that activists have more of the resources they need to support their communities in the face of this crisis.

LGBTQI Climate Activists

Tonga Leitis Association: Addressing an immediate threat

Activists from the Tonga Leitis Association have told us that the developing climate crisis has already caused an escalation of extreme weather in their region, leading to more frequent and powerful cyclones. However, many LGBTQI people are scared to access vital support as emergency shelters are largely controlled by religious organisations which can be hostile to their identities. As well as this, LGBTQI people in Tonga are more likely to face economic hardship or live in unstable accommodation, making the impact of natural disasters even more devastating. To address these needs, the Tonga Leitis Association has been training those in charge of emergency shelters to accommodate LGBTQI people, and are campaigning for the inclusion of their community in future consultations on climate change measures. 

In 2021, GiveOut’s grant is supporting TLA’s climate justice research and advocacy. LGBTQI communities will be among the most vulnerable to climate change but are scared to access emergency shelters that are largely controlled by religious organisations often hostile to them. TLA have been training those running shelters to accommodate LGBTQI people and are campaigning to include the community in climate change consultations.

J-Flag: Building evidence

In Jamaica, J-FLAG has been undertaking ground-breaking research to understand how their community is engaging with the climate crisis. Through surveys and focus groups they are gathering evidence on the attitudes of LGBTQI people towards climate change, the current impacts of the crisis, and on emergency provisions for the community. The findings will be used to shape J-FLAG’s work in this area and will provide vital evidence for LGBTQI organisations around the world looking to join the movement for climate justice.

As Emme Kristi, Consultant on Climate Justice at J-FLAG explained:

“Climate change continues to highlight and widen disparities within society with poor people, indigenous and minority groups bearing a disproportionate burden of the impacts. LGBTQI persons, globally, have been marginalized and continue to be excluded from discourse around climate change impacts on vulnerable populations. A study of this nature will add diverse experiences to the global climate change mitigation efforts to make future approaches more inclusive.”

In 2021, GiveOut’s grant is supporting J-FLAG’s ground-breaking research into how their community is affected by and responding to the climate crisis. These findings will shape J-FLAG’s work in this area and provide vital evidence for LGBTQI organisations around the world looking to join the movement for climate justice. 

Equal AF: Preparing for the future

Equal AF is an LGBTQI think-tank and innovations incubator. They work to close the gaps in research, advocacy and capacity at the intersection of LGBTQI rights and climate justice across Asia. Through empowering LGBTQI activists to engage with humanitarian organisations and climate movements within their countries, Equal AF is working to broaden the conversation around climate change to recognise the needs of marginalised groups.

They have found that LGBTQI organisations need more resources to engage with governments and organisations providing emergency support and want to ensure that LGBTQI communities are involved in developing responses to the climate crisis. Equal AF believes that climate justice is a strategic entry point to speak to the multiple, compounding and intersectional vulnerabilities of LGBTQI persons and communities.

News & Opinion

How you can make a difference

We are building a community of supporters who are passionate about the impact of climate change on LGBTQI communities and the response of our movement, enabling you to connect with others engaged in this pioneering work. The first groups to be supported under the Fund will be announced later this year as part of GiveOut’s third grant cycle.

If you would like to join us, there are several ways to get involved:

• Join our community of regular givers. Our 100 Circle of closest supporters give at the level of £100+/month or the annual equivalent, providing long term support to the LGBTQI movement. By giving through the LGBTQI Climate Fund, you can focus your support on this ground-breaking work.

• Become a founding sponsor. Join the coalition of individuals, businesses, and trusts and foundations who give at a level of £5,000+/year to support and shape our work developing LGBTQI philanthropy at this intersection.  

• Get your business involved. We offer a range of ways for businesses to support LGBTQI equality and inclusion, including sponsorship opportunities, in-kind support, employee engagement and payroll giving. We will also celebrate your support on this page and across our social media channels. 

GiveOut is a charity registered in the UK with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Registered Charity Number 1176434).