PROGRESS MADE AND OUTSTANDING ISSUES REGARDING LGBTQ+ DIVERSITY IN THE GEOSCIENCES

Recent studies examining diversity related to gender and race/ethnicity have revealed that diversity is lowest in the geosciences compared to other STEM fields. These data are limited in scope, however, as they do not capture other facets or intersecting identities of diverse individuals within this field, such as first generation academics, people with disabilities, and neurodiversity, to name a few. These identities and the representation of them in geosciences is imperative to quantify, as identities can overlap between and among groups. Creating holistic initiatives and addressing diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in the geosciences requires additional data on underrepresented groups and their representation in the geosciences. Currently, there are very few studies that examine the experiences of and sense of community among geoscientists who identify as LGBTQ+. Members of the LGBTQ+ community have long been underrepresented in STEM fields; and, despite a growing trend to increase LGBTQ+ representation, those individuals still feel fearful, repressed, and alienated.

Here we review relevant literature and discuss the landscape of the LGBTQ+ community in the geosciences. In our preliminary work, we find that regardless of an increase in representation for LGBTQ+ diverse individuals in STEM as a whole, visibility, accessibility, and a sense of belonging and safety for those individuals in the geosciences broadly is lacking. From this review, we propose a study that identifies: 1) barriers of retention, 2) successful inclusion and retention strategies, and 3) challenges and fears that the LGBTQ+ community still encounter in the geosciences. These key goals will guide survey questions that will be disseminated to the community at large. This will help generate baseline data for understanding the LGBTQ+ landscape in the geosciences and bring more visibility to the diverse LGBTQ+ community.