I am grateful to have a job that allows me to be in nature so much. The diversity present in nature has also helped me be more okay with myself. Nature shows me that diversity is a natural part of life and doesn’t make me any less. In fact, diversity is essential to natural systems.
My initial impression of forestry was that it lacked diversity. I thought I wouldn’t land a job in forestry because I am visibly LGBTQ2S+ and would make people uncomfortable. When I started interviewing for jobs, that wasn’t my experience at all. I felt comfortable, and it was clear that my identity wasn’t a factor in the interview process. I was interviewed based on the same criteria as everyone else. Forestry is often seen as an “old boys’ club”, but I have met many wonderful and diverse people. Whether it is race, gender, sexuality, etc., we all have a place in forestry. In my experience, the forest sector is welcoming and supportive of those of us who are different.
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