Queer climate narratives: identity, place, and climate change perceptions among LGBTQ+ undergraduates in Appalachia, USA

The LGBTQ+ community is particularly vulnerable to climate change-induced disasters due to existing marginalization based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. While numerous studies examine LGBTQ+ disaster response and preparedness, research has not explored how LGBTQ+ undergraduate students in higher education contexts understand climate change in relation to their sexual and gender identities. Grounded in 28 semi-structured interviews and two focus groups with LGBTQ+ undergraduate students from public universities in Appalachia, this study explores the intersection of Appalachian and queer identities and how this intersection shapes climate change perceptions and environmental understanding. Findings reveal that students’ transition to university environments prompts continued negotiation of both identity and climate understanding. Exposure to social and environmental issues through coursework and peer engagement reinforces students’ awareness that climate change is occurring, while simultaneously producing uncertainty about their futures. This research demonstrates that Appalachian LGBTQ+ perspectives are necessary to broaden climate change narratives, offering crucial insights into how young adults position themselves within conversations about climate solutions and impacts. Findings underscore the importance of incorporating emotional and identity-based frameworks into examinations of environmental contexts that shape LGBTQ+ individuals’ daily experiences.