Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and + (LGBTQ+) Geoscientists face barriers to their full and open participation and inclusion in the scientific community. Many LGBTQ+ Geoscientists are members of other underrepresented groups in Geoscience, further complicating their experience navigating the field. In order to ensure that Geoscience workplaces are welcoming to everyone, we must understand how the experiences of being LGBTQ+ and being a Geoscientist intersect. However, many LGBTQ+ Geoscientists do not openly share this element of their identity. In part because of this, little is widely known about the historical experiences and contributions of LGBTQ+ Geoscientists. There is a need for spaces where we can document, celebrate and build on the current experiences and contributions of LGBTQ+ Geoscientists.

This town hall will provide a space for LGBTQ+ Geoscientists and their allies to highlight recent successes (e.g., recognition and programming supported by AGU) and discuss the specific opportunities and challenges that exist for LGBTQ+ Geoscientists. This town hall will bring early-career and established LGBTQ+ Geoscientists from multiple employment sectors to reflect on topics including but not limited to the following:

• The visible and invisible history of LGBTQ+ contributions to the Geosciences, including ‘gAyGU’ gatherings at AGU
• Benefits and barriers to being “out” in classroom, professional, and field settings
• Supporting LGBTQ+ Geoscientists with other marginalized (intersectional) identities
• Emerging research on LGBTQ+ people in STEM, and how it relates to the Geosciences

An open forum will follow the panel discussion, with the goal of identifying next steps for LGBTQ+ inclusion at AGU and within the Geosciences at large.