Queering climate activism: Engaging young LGBTQ+ people with climate research

Lead Research Organisation: UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
Department Name: Modern Languages

Abstract

Our project draws on the research of PI Linge and Co-I Funke. Linge is a Lecturer in German at the University of Exeter who is working on a project called 'Sex and Nature: Sexology, Animals and the Arts after 1900'. The project explores how concepts of nature and the environment were essential to the development of modern concepts of sex, gender and sexuality. For example, geneticists first applied the word 'intersex' to butterflies in 1917, long before it was used to describe human anatomy or identity. Funke is an Associate Professor of English and Sexuality Studies at the University of Exeter with research specialisms in queer, trans and feminist modernist studies and the history of sexual science. As PI on the NLHF-funded Out and About: Queering the Museum project, she has worked with young LGBTQ+ people to explore LGBTQ+ heritage through the Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) collections. This has revealed that young LGBTQ+ people are strongly engaged with natural history and climate research.
The 'Queering climate activism' project builds on Linge and Funke's research expertise to engage young LGBTQ+ people with historical materials that show the intricate links between gender, sexuality, nature and climate: early twentieth-century LGBTQ+ activist Magnus Hirschfeld, for instance, was keenly interested in the human connection with nature and the environment, including the weather. Lesbian sexologist Edith Ellis wrote about Cornish seaweeds and seascapes, reflecting her bond with a changing natural world. Gay rights campaigner Edward Carpenter promoted vegetarianism and farming as part of a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Discussing these and other examples will empower young LGBTQ+ people to explore their central role in climate research and activism today.
To achieve the project aims, we will involve the young people in a series of bespoke interactive in-person (or online) engagement events in Cornwall and Devon in September and October 2021. Each three-hour event will explore historical print, film and literary material as well as local objects from the Tate St Ives and Exeter's Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) collections, which highlight the connection between gender, sexuality and the environment.
As part of the Wellcome Trust-funded Transformations project (2019-2020), a public engagement project with young trans and non-binary people to explore the history of sexual science, both PI and Co-I have gained significant experience in using historical material to engage young LGBTQ+ people. This is an innovative and flexible approach to engagement: we provide material for discussion and draw on our research to answer questions, but the direction of the discussions as well as specific topics and interests are decided on by the young collaborators. The young people's insights will then be drawn upon to develop a creative output to share their knowledge and insights more widely. As part of this process, the young people will take part in an additional three-hour comedy-writing workshop with LGBTQ+ comedian Sian Docksey. The final public engagement event of the project will be an online comedy salon, during which a local artist will present a performance based on the young people's writing during the comedy workshop. For this, we will approach Kim Wei, a non-binary queer performer who is currently the Bard of Exeter. In this way, we will enable young people to share the knowledge and expertise that they have gained through the project and to gain the confidence to use their expertise as part of LGBTQ+ and climate activism. We will record and publish the Salon on our "Sex & Nature Salon" website to share it with wider audiences online, who will be encouraged to expand their thinking around climate activism to incorporate LGBTQ+ perspectives.
For information about project partners see the "Personal Eligibility" section. For a detailed breakdown of the impact, see the "Beneficiaries and Anticipated Impact" section

Publications

10 25 50
 
Title Sex and Nature Salon 
Description Created by comedian Siân Docksey and researcher Dr Ina Linge, the Sex & Nature Salon is an interactive, playful space for sharing ideas, building community, and having fun. The Salon is a direct output of this funded project. 
Type Of Art Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) 
Year Produced 2021 
Impact The aim of the Salon was to a) communicate findings from the previous 3 workshops to a wider audience, b) communicate findings from the project to audiences outside of the region, c) show how comedy can be used as a tool to entertain and educate audiences about climate activism. We recorded the following impact against these project aims: a) communicate findings from the previous 3 workshops to a wider audience The Salon reached an audience of ca. 100 views (ca. 40 views on YouTube livestream and ca. 60 participants in the zoom event). The survey we conducted after the event shows that all participants learned either a lot or a great deal about diverse voices in climate action. The survey also showed that the voices of the young people who participated in the workshops were heard by Salon participants of a broad age range, with the majority of viewers aged between 25 and 55. b) communicate findings from the project to audiences outside of the region We also reached a wide audience beyond the University of Exeter: almost two thirds of the audience were based outside of Devon and Cornwall. c) show how comedy can be used as a tool to entertain and educate audiences about climate activism. 90% of survey participants were enthusiastic about bringing stand-up comedian and academic research together and would like to see more of this format of engagement. 
URL https://youtu.be/IXbp19qDHlk
 
Title We Live in a Human Dream (work in progress) 
Description Comedy work in progress show: "Tired of living for other people's approval, BBC New Comedy Award nominee Siân Docksey tries to impress an octopus instead." Performed at Machynlleth Comedy Festival and Museum of Comedy (London) 
Type Of Art Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) 
Year Produced 2022 
Impact Dissemination of research ideas to comedy festival audience 
URL https://machcomedyfest.co.uk/show/2022/sian-docksey-we-live-in-a-human-dream-work-in-progress/?fbcli...
 
Description The project achieved all of its intended outcomes, with the overall aim to make a change to the young people that the project engaged with. We found that for the young people that took part in Queering Climate Activism, fostering different modes of creativity and engaging and connecting with queer/historical culture that felt relevant to their identities was powerful. Both intrinsic and instrumental positive outcomes were found - from reducing social isolation and encouraging independence, to learning about wider social issues where gender, sexuality and the environment intersect and feeling part of a wider LGBTQ+ community. The longer-term benefits of cultural and creative engagement with climate activism issues for queer young people can see them not only making positive change in their local communities but becoming more confident and finding new ways to express themselves and their ideas. The project also created strong ties with local NGOs and community project through its collaboration with the Intercom Trust.
Exploitation Route The project outcomes can be taken forward and put to use by others in several ways:
By building a strong connection with the Intercom Trust, a local LGBTQ+ charity, we have created a pathway for engagement with LGBTQ+ young people in the region. This will offer opportunities for future creative engagement with local LGBTQ+ young people in order to reduce their isolation, encourage independence and learn about wider social issues.
By engaging local LGBTQ+ young people with topics of nature, environment and climate and giving them the tools to express themselves through comedy writing, we have centred the voices of young LGBTQ+ people in climate activism. We hope that future research and public engagement projects will acknowledge the important contribution that LGBTQ+ people and in particular young LGBTQ+ people can make to environmental action, activism and research.
Sectors Communities and Social Services/Policy

Creative Economy

Education

Environment

Culture

Heritage

Museums and Collections
 
Description Queering Climate Activism impact evaluation: summary report (written by project partner Rosie Gahnstrom) Queering Climate Activism was an AHRC-funded public engagement project led by Dr Ina Linge (PI) and Professor Jana Funke (Co-I) at the University of Exeter. For this project, Linge and Funke collaborated with the Intercom Trust and their youth group YAY! (Young and Yourself) Cornwall; comedian Siân Docksey; and the "Sex and Nature Salon" production team (Siân Docksey, Ina Linge, Rob Wells, Isabelle Adam). The aims of the project were to encourage participants, as LGBTQ+ young people, to feel empowered to recognise their own roles within urgent debates about climate change activism; decrease social isolation; gain new skills; increase confidence; and become informed on climate and environment issues in order to make positive change. Participants were engaged through a series of workshops and events: i) A first in-person workshop at Tate St Ives (12 participants) ii) A second in-person workshop at the RAMM in Exeter (11 participants) iii) A third online comedy writing workshop (10 participants) iv) A final showcase event in the form of "Sex and Nature" online comedy salon (ca. 50 live participants, plus 40 views on YouTube livestream). This report utilises youth feedback from the project to evaluate the experiences, outcomes and impact of the project, as well as reflections from a YAY! youth worker. LGBTQ+ young people in the South West of England Youth participants were accessed through the Intercom Trust, a LBGTQ+ charity working across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and the wider South West. Through Funke's previous work with the charity, it was evident that some young LGBTQ+ people were already deeply engaged with issues around climate change and were looking for opportunities to engage with these topics in meaningful and supportive ways, while the majority had had little to no previous involvement. An existing relationship with the charity allowed researchers to address barriers of access: young LGBTQ+ people in the South West face significant difficulties when taking part in community activities. They may not be 'out' to family or friends; they may be subject to homophobic, biphobic and transphobic abuse and experience social isolation and, therefore, poorer mental health. Attitudinal and functional barriers create a need for cultural and creative engagement that allows young LGBTQ+ people to connect with peers and feel empowered to articulate their own opinions. Collaborating with youth workers throughout the project ensured that young people were supported and able to fully participate. Evaluation overview: aims and methodology The research used creative and participatory methodologies and a flexible and responsive research design. This was to ensure the ethical collection of material and the careful sharing of data to encourage ongoing learning and reflection. Participants were invited to use the visual evaluation 'tree' (see Appendix 1.) at the end of each in person workshop to reflect on what they had learnt, what they found interesting and inspiring, or areas that they would like to know more about or weren't yet sure about. They were able to write comments on 'leaves', 'seeds' and 'shoots' to stick on a poster of an oak tree. The evaluation data was provided anonymously (for example through surveys, in-workshop activities, written reflections and evaluation forms) and cannot be attributed to particular individuals. More traditional evaluation methods were used alongside more creative ones, including a questionnaire (see Appendix 2.) at the end of each workshop and the use of online sharing platform "Padlet" where young people could anonymously add their own reflections. Evaluation aims 1. Reduce isolation 2. Increase self-belief 3. Become more informed about climate and environment issues to make positive change To address these aims the following research methods were used: • In-workshop creative activities • Sharing reflections through private online platforms • End-of-workshop questionnaires • Written reflections through creative activities Outcomes and impact Become more informed about climate and environment issues to make positive change Young people were inspired by learning about local queer artists, where they engaged with a vast array of art that challenged their conceptual thinking and invited them to step outside their comfort zones. The visits to a local art gallery and museum creatively examined the local history of artists engaging with issues around nature, climate and the environment. Learning about these histories for the first time was exciting, inspirational, and often moving for young people. One young person found the art particularly emotive and it allowed them to reconnect with nature in unexpected ways, with Petrit Halilaj's exhibition - revisiting his drawings from the refugee camp he was in as a child in Kosovo - bringing up a range of emotions: "The pure POWER art can have on an individual.. walking through Petrit Halilaj I felt joyful, pure, [a] reminder of my time in the rainforest, but turning around I felt my heart sink, drop. I felt sick on what the dark side showed." Other young people were also inspired by Halilaj's work: "I think Halilaj's work makes a point about the contrast between 1st and 3rd world issues and the willful ignorance of both capitalists & the privileged." "Petrit Halilaj's work is really powerful and gives you a different perspective of the world." Engaging with Halilaj's installation gave young people an opportunity to think about wider social issues and inequalities across the globe. Some young people were inspired by the experience as a whole and felt more informed about climate, environment and other social issues around colonialism, imperialism and the patriarchy: "It's men that steal things, kill things, ruin things." "Spend more on the planet, less on war." While some participants expressed empowerment and an urge to become more involved in climate activism, through whichever means: "Small steps to create BIG change." "Speak out! Be a voice. We need to act now." Others were just as inspired but not sure on the next 'small' steps that they could take: "What can I do NOW? How can I make an impactful change, how can I collate my ideas to create a conservation collective?" These responses suggest that, for some young people, the impact of the project was profound, with the feelings of validity and connection experienced during the workshops resulting in a desire to make positive change. One young person stated that they would have liked "more emphasis on climate as an issue" and that they enjoyed "exploring themes of social and environmental justice combined", suggesting a wider need for an interdisciplinary youth climate activism agenda. Reduce isolation One of the aims of Queering Climate Activism was to reduce isolation and improve young people's sense of community and social engagement. For one young person, this was simply expressed in their enjoyment of one of the workshops: "I feel rather good about today. It was fun." Young person, end of workshop questionnaire For others, the project reminded them of their own social engagement and connection with the local natural world around them: "Since relocating to Cornwall my queer journey has boomed! I have discovered who I am, feeling like my true authentic self, feeling at peace, coexisting with the feeling of comfort being surrounded by nature. The healing properties it has to fill the lonely void I have lived with my whole life, being part of the queer community, I found a home in the natural world. For me, being queer and connecting to nature come hand in hand." Young person, evaluation tree While this young person had already come a long way in exploring their queer identity and sense of belonging, it suggests that their involvement in Queering Climate Activism allowed them to articulate this to others and to feel a sense of empowerment through their connection with the environment. Other young people expressed a connection with both the LGBTQ+ community and with their generation as a whole: "Youth will save our planet." "We are the foundation." "Queer = Passion." Young people, evaluation tree Recognising the role that role that young people have in climate activism suggests a degree of empowerment and connection with others, particularly highlighting the ways that contemporary queer youth are engaged with wider social issues. Queering climate activism through collage After a visit to RAMM, Linge and Funke presented three historical examples of LGBTQ+ historical figures who engaged with nature and the environment in their art or writing. Young people were invited to express their thoughts and reflections through arts-based activities. Collaging gave the young people a creative outlet to explore, express and develop their ideas in more than verbal ways. They were able to talk to each other while they made the collages and to use some of the material that had been presented to them earlier on in their visit. One young person took this as an opportunity to explore contradictions around gender, nudity and a 'hyper-sexual' society, while another visually expressed their identity as a lesbian. As well as reducing social isolation, encouraging creative expression and the exploration of wider sociocultural issues through collage, they were also able to own their work by taking it home with them. This sense of ownership can help to instil pride and confidence in young people. Queering climate activism through comedy Young people were also invited to take part in a comedy writing workshop with queer stand-up comedian and writer Siân Docksey. Applying their reflections on climate and environmental issues alongside those around gender and sexuality to comedy writing aimed to offer them a space to explore these often emotive topics in an accessible and approachable way. Consolidating their ideas through the language of comedy proved to be helpful for many of the young people involved. Some young people saw an increase in their confidence: "I learnt how to incorporate my ideas together to create a joke." "i learnt i'm funnier than i actually thought lol." "I feel like I could encorporate [sic] nature and client [sic] change into jokes." Many took pride in their newly recognised ability to write their own comedy using their own learning and ideas. Young people also found that the comedy writing workshop helped them to feel connected to a wider LGBTQ+ community: "I feel more connected to comedians who are lgbt." "Queer comedy can appeal to all." "yeah! connecting comedy with queer life!" Here, the comedy writing workshops helped to reduce social isolation and increase their self-belief through connections with a wider queer community. One participant found that the workshop had helped them to become more informed on ways that they, as a queer young person, could talk about nature, the environment and Cornwall itself and noted that they can: "Use comedy to talk about difficult local subjects." This suggests that the comedy writing workshop helped young people to harness a creative space where they can both become more informed about climate issues and use their new skills and confidence to make positive change now and in the future. Others expressed their gratitude after the workshop via social media channels, highlighting their enjoyment and a need for further queer cultural engagement: Youth worker impact evaluation A youth worker involved in the project was able to provide further insight into the positive impact of Queering Climate Activism for young people through an informal 'reflective' log or questionnaire. These reflections highlight some of the specific needs of young people who took part in the project and how their participation helped to meet proposed project outcomes. Reducing isolation The youth worker acknowledged that, while some young people were already involved in groups concerned with environmental issues, many did not have prior access to these experiences and had particularly difficult or isolating home lives. It was these young people who most benefitted from involvement in Queering Climate Activism and the opportunities it presented for social engagement. For those already practicing climate activism outside of the project, it offered a space to consolidate their beliefs and ideas, and to give them a voice - something that LGBTQ+ youth, as a typically marginalised group of young people, do not often get. Increasing self-belief While increasing self-belief and connections with LGBTQ+ cultures and histories is something that underpins YAY!'s ethos as a youth work organisation, the youth worker noted that Queering Climate Activism furthered this by giving young people more opportunities for their voices to be heard and taken seriously. The comedy workshop seemed to be particularly helpful for autistic young people, who were able to tell funny stories in a trusting environment that had been created by Siân Docksey. Working with a comedian was a new and unique experience for the young people: "I saw them visibly grow in confidence during that workshop. Siân was great at making them feel safe enough to contribute, but she also gave plenty of positive affirmations." Youth worker reflection log Having opportunities to be out with friends from YAY!, youth workers and academics was also useful for increasing self-belief. Being required to arrange and organise their own transport, journeys and timings helped to increase young people's sense of autonomy and independence. Become more informed about climate and environment issues to make positive change The youth worker was particularly impressed with how young people were able to articulate their ideas and things that they had learnt through the project in various creative ways. Visits to Tate St. Ives and RAMM allowed young people to discuss both the planet and climate issues, and different cultural norms and values. There were fruitful and emotive conversations about imperialism, patriarchy and religion, that young people would not usually get opportunities to discuss - access to visits to art galleries and museums would not typically be the domain of these young people, and it seemed that the subsequent creative workshops offered a space to link these ideas to climate and environment issues. "All 3 workshops were both informative and fun." Youth worker reflection log Evaluation summary Evaluation findings show that the young people experienced an increase in confidence, validity, pride, and connection. They were motivated to learn more about queer histories and the local natural world around them. They were inspired creatively to express themselves through arts- and comedy-based methods and were motivated by what they had learnt to make positive change on a local and wider scale.
First Year Of Impact 2021
Sector Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy,Education,Environment,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections
Impact Types Cultural

Societal
 
Description AHRC Impact Cultivation: Queer Ruralities
Amount £4,750 (GBP)
Funding ID AHRC/011 
Organisation University of Exeter 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2023 
End 02/2024
 
Description Participation in "Grounding Value in the Anthropocene" project workshops 
Organisation Lancaster University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Dr Ina Linge participated in two core workshops of the "Grounding Value in the Anthropocene" project, funded by the British Academy and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (PI Nicola Thomas, Lancaster University). The workshops generated a research infrastructure that provided a foundation for inter-disciplinary and international collaborations.
Collaborator Contribution The intellectual exchange that took place with the "Grounding Value in the Anthropocene" core team of academics and further workshop participants supported the development of a teaching resource (see below), which situates the funded project in a broader research and teaching context.
Impact As a result of this collaboration, Linge is preparing a teaching resource to be added to the "Grounding Value in the Anthropocene" project website, with a provisional publication date in March 2022.
Start Year 2021
 
Description Project workshops: queering climate activism 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact 3 project workshops (Tate St Ives, Exeter RAMM, online) to engage young LGBTQ+ people on topic of climate activism. For a full breakdown of impact please see the narrative impact.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Sex and Nature Salon 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Sex and Nature Salon to showcase workshop with young LGBTQ+ people and present project outcomes
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021