Isaias Hernandez is a queer environmentalist that experienced homophobia and loss of identity while growing up in a conservative household. Through his lived experiences and academic research, he was able to understand the ways in which queerness, ecology and identity intersect in the ways in which queer ecologies are able to sustain the future of the planet. As an environmental educator, he found that queer ecological histories such as queer ecology and queer sustainability reaffirmed that queer/trans communities play a huge role in solving the climate crisis. In this talk, Isaias shares what it means to be a queer environmentalist, examining the history of queer liberation in the environmental movement and how he was able to overcome barriers he faced in his life.

Only 6.2% of Latinos/Hispanics receive their degrees in Environmental Science. And yet, according to multiple national polls, they are disproportionately affected by climate-driven extreme weather and are generally more concerned about climate change. For decades, Latin folks have made large contributions to the environmental movement, such as farm labor rights, environmental policy and the continued expansion of the links between climate and immigration policy. Isaias Hernandez is a queer Latin environmentalist that resides in Los Angeles, where his cultural experiences shaped the way he navigated the world. His parents, who were born in Mexico, were forcibly displaced by the climate and economic crisis from their farmlands. In this talk, Isaias seeks to diversify the environmental movement by showcasing to young Latin environmentalists that they, too, have a voice in the movement. He shares the history and contributions Latin communities play in advocating for environmental justice and empowering the Latinidad community.

Can veganism save the planet? Isaias Hernandez, a queer environmentalist and vegan activist, truly believes so. He’s passionate about the environment, however his vegan journey didn’t begin until he was in college and took a global food system course, where he was exposed to the atrocities of the factory farming industry. He then decided to become an animal rights advocate and show the ties between human and environmental rights. In this talk, Isaias shares his journey, the importance of veganism, vegan capitalism, White veganism and the ties between anti-racism and anti-speciesism.

The climate crisis is an educational crisis. That’s why Isaias Hernandez believes there needs to be an investment in climate education that goes both through the institutional and non-academic forms of education to inspire future generations. As an independent environmental educator, Isaias struggled to create a career that worked alongside the intersections of education, social media and the environment. But he finally had a solution: queerbrownvegan.com is Isaias’ platform. It is an accessible, intersectional space that approaches environmental education. In this talk, Isaias discusses how climate education must be implemented in the institutional curriculum while building a cultural shift that influences young people to demand change in their courses. His platform has reached over 100,000-plus people worldwide and he continues to be an independent force.

Studies have reported that 59% of youth and young adults said they were very or extremely worried about climate change and more than 45% said their feelings about climate change negatively affected their daily life and functioning. Climate Change is causing everlasting disasters and long-term mental health impacts on young adults across the world. In this talk, Climate Change Mental Health Advocate Isaias Hernandez ties the intersection between climate and mental health. He created the Climate Emotions Scale to help people navigate their earth-related emotions that go beyond eco-anxiety and introduces methodologies for people to think about when talking about the climate crisis.