Happy Pride from The Madrona Institute!
Here at the Madrona Institute, we are reflecting on another fun-filled, emotional, and empowering pride month. June is a special time to honor and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community's rich history, resilience, and the ongoing fight for equity and equality. LGBTQIA+, queer, and two-spirit activists have long been on the front lines of protecting and advocating for natural spaces.
Marginalized communities, including many LGBTQIA+ folks and BIPOC, continuously bear the brunt of environmental injustices. These communities are disproportionately affected by environmental hazards such as air and water pollution, toxic waste sites, and lack of green spaces. Recognizing and addressing these intersecting challenges is crucial to achieving true environmental justice and equality.
Pride Month serves as a reminder of the importance of creating safe spaces that celebrate and empower individuals from all walks of life. By centering the voices and experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals and BIPOC in environmental activism, we can build a movement that reflects the true diversity of our society.
Today, and every day, we celebrate, honor, and stand with the LGBTQIA+ community in the ways that they have shaped and paved the path for us to do the work that we are doing today. Let us remember that advocating for a sustainable and equitable future involves amplifying marginalized voices, fighting against all forms of discrimination, and standing in solidarity with one another.
We see you, we honor you, and we celebrate you.
- Madrona Staff & Board
If you are interested in following along some the journeys of some changemaker individuals and organizations, check out these folks and groups (amongst many other incredible trailblazers not listed):
Charlie Amáyá Scott (They/she) is a transgender Diné (Navajo) scholar, creator, and social media influencer. Charlie uses their platform to “inspire joy and justice” by reflecting and amplifying what it means to be Queer, Trans, and Indigenous today. They are also a post-doctoral candidate sharing knowledge about Indigenous Peoples, gender and sexuality, decolonization, higher education, and representation. You can Charlie on Instagram and TikTok @dineaesthetics.
Information source: Instagram @dineaesthetics / Diné Aesthetics
Geo Soctomah Neptune (She/they) is a Two-Spirit, Passamaquoddy creator and artist who was named Maine’s first Transgender, Nonbinary, Two-Spirit Elected Official in 2020. You can find them on Instagram @niskapisuwin and on TikTok @passamahottie where they share and inform about their experiences, the Land Back Movement, and their art as a Master Basketmaker.
Information source: Instagram @niskapisuwin / United States Artists
Pattie Gonia (they/she/he) is a drag queen, environmentalist, community organizer, and cofounder of The Outdoorist Oath, a non-profit dedicated and centered around planet, inclusion, and adventure. You can find Pattie at various Pride events throughout the country, speaker series, and other community events.
Information source: Instagram @pattiegonia / Yale Climate Connections
Queer Nature is a Washington-based, trans-founded, and operated organization providing nature-based education through projects centered on ecological awareness and creative engagement with the natural world.
Founded by Pinar (They/them) and So (They/them) Sinopoulos-Lloyd, the organization primarily serve LGBTQ2+ and BIPOC communities. Their website has a multitude of resources, programs, and other offerings to engage with.
Information source: Queer Nature
Intersectional Environmentalist (IE) is a non-profit organization addressing and raising awareness about the intersections between environmentalism and social justice. IE was founded by Leah Thomas (pictured). Listed on their website, IE seeks to “empower + instill joy in people of color and historically excluded communities by amplifying the incredible legacies of diverse people in the environmental space throughout history and in the present”. You can follow their social media pages @intersectionalenvironmentalist, tune into their events, and visit their website to learn more.
Information source: Interesectional Environmentalist
