Erased Twice: Queer Lives on the Frontlines of Climate Displacement
By: Eshita
Each year, climate disasters force millions from their homes- 7.7 million people were internally displaced by disasters in 2023 alone, according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. But within these staggering numbers, the stories of LGBTQIA+ people often go untold. For queer communities, being uprooted by climate catastrophe isn’t just about losing shelter or possessions; it’s about losing safety, dignity, and sometimes even the right to exist.
Climate Displacement Isn’t Identity-Neutral
The devastation of a climate disaster is never truly equal. In the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, ny LGBTQIA+ survivors – particularly transgender and intersex individuals– faced severe discrimination. Some were denied entry to shelters, while others endured daily harassment from both officials and other residents (Earth.Org). This pattern is not unique to Haiti. Around the world, disaster relief systems- often built on binary gender assumptions- end up reinforcing discrimination against those who don’t fit traditional norms.
Recent U.S. Census data analyzed by Them found that LGBTQIA+ people are nearly twice as likely to be displaced during disasters compared to the general population (2.4% vs. 1.5%). For queer people of color, the risk is even higher, as identity-based exclusion overlaps with racial and economic marginalization. Climate displacement, in other words, is never identity-neutral.
Discriminatory Shelter Practices
Emergency shelters are supposed to be safe havens. Yet, for many LGBTQIA+ people, they can be sites of further trauma. In Assam, India, transgender communities reported being clustered into separate, inadequate shelters during floods, often receiving fewer rations and less aid than others (The Better India). These experiences echo those of trans women during Hurricane Katrina in the U.S., where at least one trans woman was arrested after being prevented from using gender-appropriate restrooms, despite existing legal protections (Human Rights Watch).
A 2025 policy brief from Civis underscores that “LGBTQIA+ communities often face barriers in accessing emergency shelters during climate-induced disasters, and experience heightened risks of displacement.” The message is clear: shelter systems must adapt to serve all identities.
Identity Documents: No Guarantee of Inclusion
Accessing aid after a disaster often requires identity verification. But for many queer people, especially those whose documents don’t match their gender identity, this can be a major barrier. In India, the Aadhaar system has historically failed to recognize trans identities, making it difficult for trans people to access government services and disaster relief (Haqdarshaq). Globally, queer people displaced without rights to official recognition are routinely excluded from critical support, reinforcing cycles of marginalization (International Rescue Committee).
Legal Gaps: The Unrecognized Climate Refugee
Perhaps the most profound challenge is legal invisibility. Under international law, there is still no recognition of “climate refugees”, people forced to flee their homes due to environmental disasters (UNHCR). The 1951 Refugee Convention does not include climate change as grounds for asylum, let alone intersecting vulnerabilities related to gender identity or sexual orientation.
A handful of countries recognize persecution based on sexual orientation or gender identity as grounds for asylum, but these protections are inconsistent and often inaccessible (Williams Institute of UCLA). For LGBTQIA+ people fleeing both environmental disaster and social persecution, legal pathways to safety remain perilously narrow.
Invisibility in Data and Policy
Most disaster response frameworks do not collect data on sexual orientation or gender identity. This invisibility translates into neglect: humanitarian organizations and climate funding agencies rarely account for queer needs (OutRight International). A recent scientific review emphasized that LGBTQ+ communities face elevated exposure to climate hazards and heightened susceptibility to their effects, yet receive little attention in adaptation strategies.
Compound Risk: Poverty, Homelessness, and Health
Structural vulnerabilities magnify climate risks. In the U.S., LGBTQ+ individuals are 120% more likely to experience homelessness, and 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+ (True Colors United). Geographic clustering of queer populations in high-risk areas further increases vulnerability (Williams Institute of UCLA). Add housing discrimination and mental health disparities, and the result is a population deeply exposed and chronically underserved.
Building Inclusive Resilience
To build true climate justice, reforms must center queer voices:
Inclusive Data: Collect data on sexual orientation and gender identity in displacement contexts, with privacy safeguards (Civis).
Shelter Reform: Enforce gender-neutral facilities, inclusivity training, and safety protocols.
Flexible Identification: Ensure digital and physical IDs respect gender diversity, even in emergencies.
Legal Recognition: Advocate for climate refugee status and ensure LGBTQIA+ persecution is grounds for asylum.
Queer-Led Participation: Involve LGBTQIA+ organizations in climate policy and disaster planning.
Pride as Presence
Pride Month is a time to celebrate resilience. But for LGBTQIA+ people on the frontlines of climate displacement, survival is about more than infrastructure- it’s about identity, dignity, and belonging. As one study put it, “In times of crisis, those most marginalized tend to suffer disproportionately.”
Climate justice that doesn’t see queer people isn’t justice at all. True resilience recognizes all identities and provides space- and safety- for every person to thrive.
Eshita is a lawyer and public policy professional pursuing her MALD '25, who explores the intersection of tech policy, business, governance, and climate resilience.