LGBTQ: Hidden Victims of Climate Change
by Navya Sharma
I remember when I was 8 or 9 years old, my mother took me to buy some stationery for my school project. A woman was in that shop, she was arguing with the shopkeeper. She looked just like a man who was dressed as a woman. She had a manly voice. I was in deep thinking about her identity, who is she? Why is she so different? Many thoughts occurred in my mind at that time. She saw my mother and she hugged her. She said, “Hello Minakshi, how are you? It's been a long time”. I was shocked that my mother knows her. We came out of the shop and I asked my mother, “Mummy, who was that lady who hugged you?” She replied, “I know her since your little brother was born.” I asked her whether she was a man or a woman. My mother said, “She is neither a woman nor a man, she is an animal.” She briefly explained to me that these people are different from us, God made them different from us. I didn’t understand what my mother was saying because I was too young to understand it, but now I know a lot about them as I am a teenager. They are transgender people; they are not animals. They are humans like us. That was my first time seeing a transgender and my mother told me was wrong. I don't know whether my mother thinks that transgender people are animals or she didn’t want me to know about LGBTQs at a very young age.
When my mother told me that she has known her since my brother was born, my mother meant that she came to my house to celebrate my brother’s arrival in our family. There is a tradition in India that when a baby is born in a family, transgender people come and bless the baby. There is a myth that whatever transgender wishes come true. If a transgender curses someone that person will die, if a transgender blesses that person will be happy and healthy. She blessed my brother. They don't bless for free; we have to pay so that they bless the baby. This tradition has been going on in India for so long. This not only just a tradition but it’s a source of income for transgender people. In India, transgender people are respected because of their blessings. In India we mostly refer to them as ‘she’ because they always dress up like a woman.
There is a Hindi movie, “Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga.” This movie is about a beautiful young girl whose true love is a woman. She’s a lesbian who hides the secret of her true love. It was hard for her to accept her reality. In the movie, her elder brother was against her relationship with a woman. At the end of the movie, her father finds out that she’s a lesbian. Her father accepted her true love. This movie wasn’t a success because most of the people were not interested in a lesbian love story. I watched this movie once and I liked it. I realized that there are many people like her who are hiding from this judgmental society.
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In many countries, being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI) means living with daily discrimination. This discrimination is based on your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression , or sexual characteristics (for example, your genitals, chromosomes, reproductive organs, or hormones). From name-calling and bullying, to being denied a job or proper health care, facing a range of unequal treatment that is harmful. Sometimes its life is also in danger.
I am from India . LGBTQ people in India indeed face many discrimination but the worst part is that they are treated like an animal. In developed countries such as the USA, LGBTQ people are still respected in many aspects but in India it is considered a sin to be gay, lesbian or transgender.
I have studied climate change a lot. As far as I know climate change includes both human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and consequent global warming induced by large-scale changes in weather patterns. The impacts of climate change are going to vary depending on factors such as social responsibilities, especially cultural and social norms. I was surprised to learn that those who are already the most marginalized will experience the greatest impacts of climate change. Of course, the (LGBTQIA+) community is a group that is socially vulnerable. They are the hidden victims of climate change. Through Climate Justice, we recognize that the roots of climate change are intertwined with the roots of many repressions. Capitalism and colonialism fuel climate change, but are also a part of LGBTQ+ oppression.
In India, LGBTQ individuals are abused and often forced to leave their homes due to violence or conflict with family. They are more likely to live on lower incomes, experience homelessness and sometimes have limited access to healthcare. The growing effects of climate change on LGBTQ+ people stem not only from a particular identity, but from existing social discrimination towards that identity, which is then multiplied by the complex and far-reaching effects of climate change. Discrimination towards LGBTQ people are deepening for vulnerable populations in countries with very weak health and education system. They are the risk of being left behind.
As we adapt to a changing planet, we must also recognize the ways in which some will be affected more by climate change than others. And as we build and invest in clean energy jobs and infrastructure, we must do so consciously and appropriately – to ensure that change brings everyone together. Our mission should be to educate and empower the next generation of children and adults about the power of our daily choices and the enormous impact these choices have on the health and well-being of both us and our planet. As we know that education enables upward socioeconomic mobility and is the key to escape poverty. Quality education which is also sustainable development goal 4 is the solution to all problems. Educating and empowering the young generation is the key to solve all the 17 sustainable development goals.
About
Navya Sharma is a 15-year-old Indian teen. She is a high school student.
She comes from a middle-class Indian family. She experienced many difficulties as a girl in India. She is part of the Goodwall community. Goodwall is a student community app and she makes many videos on sustainability, equality, culture, traditions etc. She always wanted to do something big and good for the sake of humanity. She loves to write stories and articles on sustainability, equality, education, etc crucial topics. After observing people she got the answer that why India is still a developing country, this is because of people’s mentality. She wants to make people aware of human rights, sustainability, etc. Making videos and writing articles is her way to spread awareness about important matters. Her dream is make this world a better place to live.