Celebrating LGBTQ+ environmental innovators and Pride Month

June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning, plus other sexual orientations and gender identities) people and communities. Pride Month is celebrated in June to commemorate the historic Stonewall Uprising that took place in New York City in June 1969.  

Since then, Pride Month has evolved into a national celebration of LGBTQ+ rights, visibility and acceptance. It’s a time when the LGBTQ+ community and their allies come together to raise awareness, celebrate diversity, honor the progress made and acknowledge the work that still needs to be done. That work often overlaps with other forms of social justice, including environmental justice.  

Many LGBTQ+ advocacy groups recognize the importance of addressing environmental issues, and the environmental sciences and climate change fields have been quick to make progress including and embracing the LGBTQ+ community.  

These collaborations show how social causes are connected and that progress in one area can support progress in another. By working together, people increase awareness and advocate for policies that address the needs of the LGBTQ+ community and the environment.   

There are many LGBTQ+ innovators working to address climate change. Here are three: 

Rachel Kyte has dedicated her career to addressing climate challenges and promoting sustainable practices and clean energy. She has been a vocal advocate for gender equality and the empowerment of women in the context of climate change and sustainable development. Her work highlights the disproportionate impacts of climate change on women, and she has called for gender-responsive policies and strategies to address these challenges. 

From 2016 to 2019, Kyte served as CEO of Sustainable Energy for All, an international organization that partners with the United Nations and governments around the world to promote fair access to sustainable energy.   

Christine Hallquist made history in 2018 as the first openly transgender major party nominee for governor in the United States. Before her career in politics, Hallquist had a successful career in the energy industry. She served as CEO of Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) for over a decade, working to expand renewable energy initiatives and improve energy efficiency in Vermont.  

Under Hallquist’s leadership, VEC made significant strides promoting renewable energy sources and reducing its carbon footprint. One accomplishment was the Sheffield Wind Project, a wind farm with 16 turbines in Sheffield, Vermont. The project expanded the state’s wind power capacity and contributed to Vermont’s broader renewable energy goals. 

Isaias Hernandez is an environmental educator, writer and content creator known for his work promoting environmental awareness and sustainability. He is the founder of the Instagram account Queer Brown Vegan where he shares his experience at the intersection of being queer, Latinx and environmentally conscious.  

Hernandez uses his platform to educate his followers and the public about the connection between environmentalism and marginalized communities. He emphasizes the need for inclusive environmental movements that stand up for the voices of underrepresented groups and address systemic inequalities. 

These are just a few examples of LGBTQ+ innovators and their work to address climate change, and there are so many more stories about LGBTQ+ activism, environmental preservation, clean energy and sustainability to learn.  

If you need a place to start, check out Wyn Wiley’s work sharing the beauty of nature through art and photography or Pinar Sinopoulos-Lloyd's background in environmental stewardship and indigenous practices. 

Alliant Energy is guided by our values and purpose-driven strategy, serving customers and building stronger communities. Our diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) vision is to be recognized as a leader for our inclusive culture and practices that benefit co-workers, customers and communities. Learn more about our commitment to DE&I here.