Queering Environmental Justice

Positives

• This short article gives students a summary of an academic journal article that explains the disproportionate impacts of environmental exposure and discrimination on the LGBTQ+ community. 
• Students will gain understanding or perspective through reading. 

Additional Prerequisites

• Students should understand how certain groups face discrimination and how aid after environmental events is offered to populations. 
  

Differentiation

• Cross-curricular connections can be made in health classes discussing health concerns after natural disasters.
• Social studies classes can discuss how various communities are impacted differently by natural disasters and how discrimination can affect those groups of people in a negative way.
• After reading, a class discussion about the link between discrimination and increased risks would be beneficial. Have students list other risks that could increase with discrimination and brainstorm steps that can be taken to lessen those risks or decrease discrimination. 
• To increase empathy, consider having students participate in an activity where anyone with a particular eye color or shirt color is not allowed to have a treat that is offered to all other students.  Then discuss the implications of not receiving clean water, food, or shelter after a natural disaster using the same criteria.