“Imagining your Queer future is a form of prayer.”
Inspired by a PSU class centered around the impacts of climate change on queer, trans, and indigenous populations, the intention of this site is to address a reality that I have seen exposed by the Covid pandemic: our legal, economic, and social systems—at all levels—are phenomenally unprepared to support us in the case of massive disruption.
In short: when climate forces further disrupt our communities, it is unlikely that many of us will have knowledge of the systems to which we may have to turn to for relief. Wherever possible, I have tried to focus on resources specific to queer communities, but the list also includes resources available to non-queer populations. At this time, local resources are specific to the Portland area (Multnomah County).
This site attempts to both INFORM via a directory of currently accessible systems that would likely be key during a climate catastrophe and to INSPIRE via music and visuals, because this shit is heavy.
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A Disaster Resource Center, or DRC, is a physical location that is activated to respond to the needs of people in the community who are affected by disaster or an incident.
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A HOME EMERGENCY KIT should contain enough items to last for at least 2 weeks.
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Downloadable PDF brochures, organized by topic, 12 languages available
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THIS DATABASE links to resources specific to all "declared disasters" after they have been assigned to FEMA, so various federal resources will be linked here once individual disasters have been established according to federal guidelines.
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One of the oldest, continually operated transgender and gender-variant organizations in the country!
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OUT for Sustainability provides a platform for co-creating climate resilience and environmental justice by and for LGBTQIA+ communities.
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Prism Health strives to provide compassionate, affirming primary care for transgender and gender non-conforming folks as well as all queers and allies, in a safe, friendly, and culturally responsive atmosphere.
(503) 445-7699 -
A search page for local resources.
(503) 234-7837 -
PDX nonprofit managing Safe Rest Villages including one specifically for unhoused queer folk
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American Red Cross resources to Get Help
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Providing short- and long-term support for participants to rent housing units throughout the metro Portland area.
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National resource but phone for local assistance.
(877) 565-8860
Other Ends of the World
MUSIC for the end of the world
This shit is heavy. Building the resource list while contemplating a bunch of readings that grapple with climate catastrophe, mass extinction events, and a continual pattern of erasure of queer lives has not been easy. THANK YOU to Prof. Cheang, who suggested I seek out avenues of self-care while compiling the disaster resources. Since music is a kind of therapy for me, I made a playlist, cuz that’s how I roll.
mood board for the end of the world
Music inspires, as does imagery. So here’s a sort of Pinterest to gawk at while contemplating mass extinction events. I have to admit that there’s a level of intentional distraction here: Picasso’s “Guernica” probably fits the mood, but that’s not the mood I’m going for. Yes, the ice is melting; yes, the end may actually be nigh, but “LOOK OVER HERE THERE’S A PRETTY PICTURE!” That’s the mood I’m going for.
Reading for the end of the world
During the class that inspired this site (Introduction to Climate Fictions and Justice: A Femin-Queer Approach) we’ve read a number of remarkable pieces. I have compiled a brief bibliography including some of those works and I’ve supplemented with a few volumes of LGBTQIA2++ histories and relevant podcasts that have helped me further understand where we’re headed as a community.
“Where Modern society is most imbalanced, is in its knowledge of itself. By trying to conceal from itself what it may fear to know, our society is greatly endangered, and excruciatingly tender.”