Chasing Storms in Transition: A Personal Journey
Storm Chasing in a Changing Climate: Challenges for Trans Individuals in Tornado Alley
Tornado Alley, traditionally encompassing parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Nebraska, and South Dakota, is expanding eastward due to climate change, bringing with it a growing number of extreme weather events. This shift in weather patterns is not only challenging the logistics and physical safety of storm chasers but also poses unique challenges for trans individuals in the community.
Raychel Sanner, a trans woman in her mid-30s, is a prime example of an outspoken advocate for trans rights and climate issues. She has been storm chasing since childhood and has worked as a freelance chaser for years. Raychel also serves as a senior digital media strategist for the ACLU and founded Titans University, a school for aspiring storm chasers. However, her journey was not without obstacles. She left Oklahoma to transition and found a job with the ACLU in New Mexico.
The weather industry, historically dominated by white, straight, cis-men, has seen Raychel become a figure of authority in storm chasing. Yet, she is not alone. The meteorology field currently has 23.7% women and approximately 12% LGBTQIA+ individuals, reflecting a slow but steady shift towards inclusivity.
Unfortunately, the progress is not uniform across the states in Tornado Alley. Oklahoma and Kansas, for instance, are among the top states with anti-LGBTQIA+ bills, at 41 and 18 respectively. Texas, this year alone, has introduced 141 such bills, collectively these states have introduced 180 anti-trans bills. In certain states, queer and trans faces may not be trusted to deliver the weather.
This hostile legal and social environment, combined with the increased intensity of storms, creates a dual burden on trans people within the storm chasing community. It impacts their safety, mental health, and ability to participate openly in this field.
While direct empirical studies on this intersection remain scarce, ongoing documentation through photo series and film projects about trans storm chasers suggests a growing recognition of these compounded difficulties. For example, a documentary project spotlighting a trans storm chaser as both a climate chronicler and trans rights advocate highlights this intersection.
As Tornado Alley continues to expand and weather patterns become more unpredictable, it is crucial to address the unique challenges faced by trans individuals in the storm chasing community. Safety during tornadoes depends on hearing the warning in time, having a shelter to go to, and being able to get there in the allotted time. However, for trans individuals, the social and legal insecurity they face can complicate these basic safety measures.
In a world where climate change is intensifying weather events, it is essential to ensure that everyone, regardless of their gender identity, has the opportunity to participate in and contribute to the understanding of extreme weather events.
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