Allyship requires action

Queer and especially transgender ecologists face unique barriers in the pursuit of professional training, resources, and career opportunities, and without targeted actions to overcome these barriers, motivations to make our institutions more equitable will not translate into meaningful change. Saying our institutions are safe for and welcoming of LGBTQ+ people is insufficient to achieve the necessary outcomes. Though social progress has made it possible for many LGBTQ+ scientists to live openly without fear of job termination and workplace violence, reports indicate that queer people remain 17-21% underrepresented in STEM fields and are more likely to be professionally devalued, harassed, and career limited than their cisgender/heterosexual colleagues. Simply put, if we want to create equal opportunity for LGBTQ+ scientists, allyship requires action.