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Contributed Poster

Session: Broadening Participation and Impact

PS 21-32 - Are we really out in the field? LGBTQIA+ Perspectives on Safety and Belonging in Conservation

Tuesday, August 8, 2023
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM PDT
Location: ESA Exhibit Hall
Abstract: Conservation ecologists work in diverse settings, both geographically and culturally, sometimes requiring them to exist in spaces where they do not feel safe, included, or accepted. Previous research has alluded to some of these unsafe conditions, but to our knowledge, lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ scientists in the field of conservation are yet to be discussed. Here, we aim to fill this knowledge gap by conducting an anonymous survey of faculty, graduate researchers, and conservation professionals in the U.S. We surveyed members and non-members of the LGBTQIA+ community to explore participant’s positive and negative lived experiences in conservation, and shed light on the situations in which they have felt a sense of safety and belonging. We focused our questions on four key areas: a) geographic location; b) differing work settings; c) stakeholder relationships; and d) access to community resources. We use the results from this survey to provide recommendations on how to elevate support for the LGBTQIA+ community for the field of conservation.