Queer Eye for Disaster Relief
I am obsessed with queer responses to climate change. If someone faces threats and challenges when it a beautiful day out, things only get worse with the weather. Climate change is a threat multiplier. We have always had storms, floods, droughts, and heatwaves, but climate change magnifies these making them bigger and badder. Similarly, threats people face because of their identity, mobility, health, etc also increases with the more extreme weather events.
Homeless LGBTQ youth face many risks and dangers on sunny days. These explode with extreme weather, especially when they don’t seek shelter. Up to 40% of homeless youth avoid shelters.
According to LiveAbout.com
If at all possible, LGBT teens who are facing homelessness, or who are already homeless, should try to locate LGBT-friendly services.
When dealing with a crisis like homelessness, the last thing you need is a hostile or homophobic service provider.
Fortunately there are some of these LGBTQ-friendly shelters.
The Ali Forney Center in New York, has complied a list of such resources in 16 states: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.
I see addressing homeless LGBTQ youth needs (in nice weather and nasty weather) as a queer family values issue.
Fellow queer Quaker, Brian Blackmore told me about the work of The Night Ministry in Chicago. “They have a mobile bus that offers temporary shelter, counseling, Health care and testing, and sometimes food. The people who work there are some of the most valiant and compassionate people I have ever met. Tikkun Olam realized.”
I would love to hear of your own experiences, insights, and ideas of how we can build stronger communities before disasters come.
LGBTQ Youth, Disasters, and YOU from Peterson Thomas Toscano on Vimeo.
Whenever someone asks me to describe my performance work, I often fail at explaining it. It’s like having to explain a joke to someone. The whole thing can flatten out. What helps is when I instead detail my aims and influences. Then hopefully they will see the work for themselves, and it will make sense to them.
Beyond the engaging plot, I love the atmosphere of the book, these late night gatherings and meetings that appear sinister at first but then surprised me by the warmth and friendliness within. Much like those misconceptions I can have of a person on first encounter, McMillan’s book invites the reader to look with clearer vision that overturns negative judgements. She presents an edgy Belfast filled with grit and decay that contain surprising nooks and crannies for community to pop up like flowers growing in the cracks of abandoned parking lots.
