Queering disasters: on the need to account for LGBTI experiences in natural disaster contexts

Abstract

This paper seeks a queering of research and policy in relation to natural disasters, their human impacts, management and response. The human impacts of natural disasters vary across different social groups. We contend that one group largely absent from scholarly and policy agendas is sexual and gender minorities, or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual and intersex (LGBTI) populations. To demonstrate that these minorities have particular experiences that need to be addressed, we critically review five case studies which comprise the limited scholarly and policy research on LGBTI populations in disasters to date. Building on this, we offer some specific ways forward for queer disaster research that accounts for the vulnerabilities, needs and resilient capacities of LGBTI populations. In doing so, we recognise and urge researchers, policy-makers and aid agencies to acknowledge that LGBTI populations are not homogenous and have different needs wrought by intersections of socioeconomic resources, gender, race/ethnicity, age, and regional or national location.

Gender and climate change in the Indian Himalayas: global threats, local vulnerabilities, and livelihood diversification at the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve

“…Can spatial models of flood hazard for the region incorporate practices from participatory GIS to intentionally reflect the location of gender-based and activist network hubs, as researchers in the area of disaster studies elsewhere have suggested (e.g., Leduc et al, 2008;Knight et al, 2012) as a way to better support members of transgendered communities? 3 Existing lines of climate change and livelihood research undertaken by social scientists and policy and/or systems 3 Recent work in the field of gender and disasters has shown that relief services and support are frequently gender-segregated, functionally excluding transgender communities such as hijras in India, warias of Indonesia, baklas in the Philippines, and LGBTQI and/or genderqueer communities in the USA (Balgos et al, 2012;Dominey-Howes et. al., 2014;Knight et al, 2012).…”

Gender and sexuality I

“…Not 'fitting in' is illustrated in the high levels of homelessness for transgender youth (Rek, 2009), and this has been noted even in gay neighbourhoods such as The Castro in San Francisco (Brown, 2014). In relation to natural disasters, homophobia and transphobia impact heavily on trans* and intersex populations, who have difficulties with, for example, evacuation shelters (Dominey-Howes et al, 2013), displacement, and home loss D'Ooge, 2008).…”

Beyond men and women: a critical perspective on gender and disaster

“…In fact, a growing number of reports highlighting the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in disasters have appeared over the past few years (Dominey-Howes, Gorman-Murray, and McKinnon, 2014). Since '…”

“…They emphasise that heteronormative values and norms in both everyday life and during disasters make nonheterosexual people particularly vulnerable in the face of natural hazards. Ultimately, LGBT vulnerability is reinforced by the consistent lack of consideration of their needs and concerns in DRR policies and practices (Dominey-Howes, Gorman-Murray, and McKinnon, 2014). These studies show that, in recent disasters in various countries, LGBT people often are discouraged from accessing counselling services, evacuation centres, or relief goods owing to the presence of discrimination, harassment, and stigma when attempting to do so, as, for example, in Canada (Cianfarani, 2013), Haiti (The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, 2011), and Japan (Ozawa, 2012).…”