Office Coordinator – Education Department

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Issue 121 - June 2025

Currents We Refuse to Follow

I discovered very early on that I didn’t quite fit. It was always there—a quiet but insistent sense of distance between myself and the world around me.

Growing up queer in a world that doesn’t reflect you forces a kind of vision. You graduallty learn to navigate both the hostile currents of society and the not-so-easy-to-tame winds of your own identity. You learn to read the weather—every subtle shift, every sign of an incoming storm. That vigilance sharpens your senses, not only for survival, but for lucidity. And you distance yourself from society, through this questioning gaze.

The model we’re offered—rooted in consumption, domination, and disconnection—feels not only alien, but violent. It flattens difference. It silences complexity. It insists there is no alternative, burying all other paths beneath aggression, fear, or indifference. But queerness is living proof that another direction is always possible, no matter the obstacles.

As I was put aside by societal norms, I grew more attuned to the non-human world—to its ambiguity, its fluidity, its refusal to be boxed in. My path became obvious when diving allowed me to discover the marvels and vulnerability of life underwater.

Today, I study the connectivity of ecosystems, the cetaceans’ distributions and the multifaceted anthropogenic pressures that fracture them. Through simulation tools, we try to understand how other species inhabit our common world. We try to glimpse the shared patterns of survival. And in doing so, we confront the damage our species generates.

Conservation, to me, is not just about protecting species. It’s about acknowledging the vast diversity of modes of existence in our world, and resisting a death-driven logic of extraction and disposability. It’s about rejecting a worldview that sees forests, oceans, and identities as resources to be consumed. It’s about care. It’s about remembering that every life is entangled with others, and that no victory is solitary.

I may not spend as much in the field as I wished I did, but I am part of the resistance—tracing patterns, exploring relationships, challenging the illusion of separation. Whether I am modeling cetacean habitats in the Mediterranean or questioning the narratives of progress we’re sold, the work is the same: to reveal, to connect, to defend.

Being queer and being a conservationist are not separate paths. They are the same longing, the same refusal. The same belief that we are not condemned to drift, that we can steer towards this whole new course.

About the Author

Victor Gauducheau observing the ocean through a telephoto camera lens aboard a research vessel under clear blue skies.

My name is Victor, I’m 30 years old and I’m from France. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been curious about perceptions and reality. I thought I’d become a neuroscientist to explore the human brain. But then I was struck by the harsh realization that we were destroying our planet ever more rapidly and thoughtlessly. So I changed careers afterwards, and found myself drawn to this other realm that we know so little about: marine ecosystems, a whole different reality. So far, I’ve worked on cetacean conservation and exploration, and on the mitigation of anthropogenic pressures, both in the Eastern Caribbean and in the Mediterranean. Although it’s sometimes hard to keep the faith, I do everything in my power to make things happen. My dream job would be helping (diving!) in the field to restore natural habitats while acting to reduce the pressures, both locally and globally.

Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-gauducheau-627a36140/

Issue 121 - June 2025

Recoger “basuritas”, cuidar el agua, habitar el orgullo

Person walking among rocky cliffs near the ocean, wearing a Parley shirt and cap.

Español (versión original)

Las aguas que defendemos no distinguen género, orientación o frontera. Fluyen. Conectan. Sostienen. Aprendí esto no solo estudiando ecosistemas costeros, sino viviéndolo: en el fango de los humedales, en las orillas del río Maipo en acciones colectivas junto a organizaciones, en las olas de la playa de Llolleo, aquí donde alguna vez sentí que por ser distinta, tenía que mimetizarme y otras veces me sentí como esas basuritas que recoge la artista Cecilia Vicuña, esas basuritas que nadie ve. Hoy, esa misma diferencia es mi impulso para proteger, educar y activar.

Trabajo en Parley como encargada de proyectos relacionados con los ríos, dentro de una red internacional que busca frenar el flujo de plásticos hacia los océanos mediante limpiezas, barreras interceptores, ciencia comunitaria y educación. En paralelo, desde mi ciudad natal en la costa central de Chile, junto al equipo local de la Fundación Ojos de Mar, accionamos por la defensa de los humedales costero-urbanos. Promovemos el acceso a la justicia ambiental comunitaria desde una perspectiva ecofeminista a través del artivismo, la educación popular y el empoderamiento de disidencias, mujeres, niñeces y pueblos originarios.

Nacer cerca del Río y el Mar, generó en mí un vínculo profundo con los territorios que me vio crecer y correr. Caminar por el humedal, observar el vuelo de los Pilpilenes (Haematopus palliatus) o el descanso de los coipos, o simplemente escuchar cómo suena el viento entre los juncos, me recuerda que todo esto aún existe. Que aún hay tiempo, que hay vida que vale la pena defender.

English (Author’s Translation)

The waters we defend don’t distinguish gender, orientation, or borders. They flow. They connect. They sustain. I learned this not only by studying coastal ecosystems, but by living it: in the mud of wetlands, on the banks of the Maipo River in collective actions alongside organizations, in the waves of Llolleo beach, here where I once felt that because I was different, I had to blend in, and other times I felt like those little pieces of trash collected by the artist Cecilia Vicuña, those little pieces of trash that no one sees. Today, that same difference is my drive to protect, educate, and activate.

I work at Parley as a project manager related to rivers, part of an international network that seeks to stem the flow of plastics into the oceans through cleanups, interceptor barriers, community science, and education. At the same time, from my hometown on the central coast of Chile, together with the local team of the Ojos de Mar Foundation, we are working to defend coastal-urban wetlands. We promote access to community environmental justice from an ecofeminist perspective through artivism, popular education, and the empowerment of dissidents, women, children, and indigenous peoples.

Being born near the River and the Sea created a deep connection in me with the territories where I grew up and lived. Walking through the wetland, observing the flight of the Pilpilenes (Haematopus palliatus) or the resting of the coypu, or simply listening to the wind blow through the reeds, reminds me that all of this still exists. That there is still time, that there is life worth defending.

Smiling woman in a Parley t-shirt standing on rocky terrain by the sea under a clear blue sky. — *Pride in place: Liliana stands by the ocean, where identity, nature, and activism converge.*

Muchas veces se minimiza el trabajo que hacemos por estar vinculado a residuos, limpiezas y ecosistemas con procesos de eutrofización, como si lo “sucio” no fuera parte de lo esencial. Pero lo es, porque al recoger desechos también levantamos memoria, dignidad y futuros posibles para especies no humanas y comunidades que han sido históricamente olvidadas.

Mi vida y mi activismo se entrelazan como afluentes de un mismo cauce: un río diverso, libre, resistente, proteger la naturaleza también es un acto de amor hacia nosotros mismos. Y porque todas nuestras acciones tienen raíces compartidas: cuidar lo que nos da vida, cuidar lo que somos y a quienes vendrán. Sobre todo en el Sur Global, donde los intereses por destruir lo mejor de nuestros territorios provienen de un entramado global que rara vez nos incluye como protagonistas de la solución.

Este Pride, me enorgullezco de llevar botas llenas de barro, de recoger “Basuritas” y una bandera llena de colores.

The work we do is often minimized because it is linked to waste, cleanup, and ecosystems experiencing eutrophication processes, as if the “dirty” were not part of the essential. But it is, because by collecting waste, we also raise memory, dignity, and possible futures for non-human species and communities that have been historically forgotten.

My life and my activism intertwine like tributaries of the same river: a diverse, free, resilient river. Protecting nature is also an act of love for ourselves. And because all our actions have shared roots: caring for what gives us life, caring for who we are, and for those who will come after us. Especially in the Global South, where the interests in destroying the best of our territories stem from a global framework that rarely includes us as protagonists of the solution.

This Pride, I am proud to wear muddy boots, to pick up “little trash,” and to carry a colorful flag.

Woman smiling at the camera while standing in shallow turquoise waters with sailboats in the background. — *Joy and resistance: Liliana embracing nature and queerness with a full heart.*

Woman pulling trash from a riverbed in an urban setting, with a tall glass building in the background. — From wetlands to cities: Liliana’s cleanup work spans landscapes.

Person holding a dirty glass bottle during a cleanup near a freshwater body. — From wetlands to cities: Liliana’s cleanup work spans landscapes.

Sobre la autora

Liliana Plaza C. activista, docente y gestora de proyectos de ríos del equipo Parley Chile y fundadora de Ong Ojos de Mar, organización comunitaria que defiende los ecosistemas costeros desde San Antonio, Chile. Su trabajo se enfoca en la justicia ecológica con perspectiva de género, el fortalecimiento del tejido socioterritorial a través del artivismo y la promoción de liderazgos disidentes y locales.

About the Author

Liliana Plaza C. is an activist, educator, and river project manager with the Parley Chile team. She is also the founder of Ong Ojos de Mar, a grassroots organization defending coastal ecosystems in San Antonio, Chile. Her work centers around ecological justice with a gender perspective, strengthening social and territorial networks through artivism, and uplifting local and dissident leadership.

Issue 121 - June 2025

Patrick & Dave’s Pride Guide: Scuba, Drag & Coral Reefs in Miami Beach

If you’re looking for a sun-soaked holiday to take this Pride Month, where you can snorkel or scuba dive and then have a refreshing beverage at a local queer bar and dance the night away—or turn in early and have a sunrise paddleboard with your partner—look no further than Miami Beach.

Miami hasn’t historically come to mind when planning a scuba vacation, but my husband and I have been exploring the nearshore reef off of South Beach since 2021 and we think our beach town has everything to offer for an LGBTQ+ eco adventure vacation. I have been diving for 20 years and found species here that I haven’t seen anywhere else like the lesser electric ray and the guitar fish!

A lesser electric ray resting on the sandy sea floor near Miami Beach — Lesser electric ray (possibly pregnant) lays next to a submerged buoy line

A school of colorful rainbow parrotfish swimming over a coral reef near Miami Beach — Lesser electric ray (possibly pregnant) lays next to a submerged buoy line

Only a few hundred feet from “Gay Beach” (12th Street), lies a coral reef that has remained resilient throughout the recent global bleaching phenomenon. A significant portion of the divers and snorkelers exploring this underwater ecosystem are part of the LGBTQ+ community that is growing each summer month when the waters are calm and the winds are low—the ideal time to visit the reef. The existence of this shore-accessible reef has inspired many queer people to get certified and discover the vibrant “rainbow of life” just a short swim from our city because it’s so easy to get to.

This community, led by many queer and women-led organizations, has been working to protect the reef and turn the entire area into a marine park. The biodiversity is stunning, numerous endangered hard corals and all sorts of rarely spotted marine life swim in this easily accessed site.

Miami Beach is a perfect eco-adventure destination for the LGBTQ+ community. Nowhere else can you find such a vibrant queer-oriented city just hundreds of feet from a spectacular coral reef. Picture a typical Saturday afternoon, swimming out to the reef with your friends while listening to the drag queens perform at the world-famous Palace bar across Ocean Drive. You can dive with locals in the morning, dry off for a fan clacking drag brunch, and dance the night away at the gay clubs.

Patrick and Dave standing in scuba gear on the beach after diving in Miami — *Patrick and Dave after scuba diving on Miami Beach’s nearshore Reef*

Some recommendations for an Ocean eco adventure vacation during Pride Month in Miami Beach:

Stay:

Check into the locally owned Gaythering Hotel at the bay-end of Lincoln Road. More than just a hotel, this local gem has become a staple in the queer community, hosting local sports leagues and raucous Sunday BBQs with entertaining bar games like hot potato (which may or may not use an actual potato), drag race competitions, and “pop the balloon.” They also host nightly events such as Karaoke Mondays, Trivia Wednesdays, and Bingo Thursdays. If you’re visiting on the last weekend of the month, I host a Queer Easels pop-up art show highlighting local South Florida artists.

Guests mingling at a Queer Easels pop-up art show at Hotel Gaythering in Miami Beach — *Snapshot from one of Patrick’s Monthly Queer Easels pop-up art shows at the Gaythering*

Paddleboard in the Bay:

Take a short stroll from the Gaythering to Purdy Avenue, where 2–3 rental options offer paddleboards to explore the tranquil bay. This peaceful setting is ideal for spotting South Florida’s diverse birdlife, including pelicans, ospreys, cormorants, and if you’re lucky, the rare, pink-feathered spoonbill (I’ve only seen one in the wild while paddleboarding off Purdy Avenue!). You’ll almost certainly see ospreys soaring overhead and cormorants drying their wings on channel markers. For experienced paddleboarders, exploring the mangroves on the north side of the bay is a treat—just remember sunscreen and water, and keep your eyes peeled for manatee snouts and dolphin fins!

A man paddleboarding on Biscayne Bay with blue skies and palm trees in the background — *Dave paddleboarding in Biscayne Bay*

Hit the Beach:

Grab the free rental bikes from the Gaythering and make your way to the local gay beach at 12th Street! You’ll know you’re in the right spot when you spot the rainbow-colored lifeguard tower and the Progress flags just to its south. On your way, pick up a sandwich from La Sandwhicherie, but guard it closely from the seagulls—you won’t want to share anything covered in the “magic sauce” from one of Miami Beach’s oldest continually running businesses.

Group of queer friends posing in front of the rainbow lifeguard tower at 12th Street Beach — *Patrick, Dave and the local queer pickleball group at the 12th Street beach*

Explore the Reef:

When you’re ready to meet the fishes, the easiest place to start is the South Pointe Jetty. Located at the southern end of the island, the best time to go is early in the morning before fishermen cast their lines. While fishing is technically not legal from the jetty, enforcement can be lax, so remain vigilant for fishing lines. We highly recommend bringing a diver buoy with you when snorkeling or diving to improve your visibility and help avoid accidents. Avoid the area of the jetty that begins to be submerged due to strong currents.

Scuba diving is excellent between 5th and 10th Streets. We are actively working with a group of local environmentalists to preserve this nearshore reef and create a safe zone for visitors while also protecting the reef from ongoing anchor damage. Currently, the vessel exclusion zone ends right at the near-edge of the reef, posing a potential for boat strikes. That’s why the first priority for the reef protection project is to move the buoys to the west side of the reef. This way, boaters can still enjoy the area, and we won’t have to worry about people encountering propellers while trying to meet new, gilled friends. Always check conditions before entering the water and carry appropriate safety equipment. In Florida, you are required to carry a dive marker with you while shore diving.

After your fill of ocean and bay adventures, head over to Palace for one of their famous drag brunches. Don’t forget to stop by their rooftop pool deck to catch the sunset and, on a clear day, get a bird’s-eye view of the reef. Then, dance the night away at Twist!

More Nature Excursions:

If you’re itching for another nature excursion, explore the Everglades on an airboat ride where you can spot some of our more ancient residents, the American alligator. If you’re heading that way, be sure to stop by Robert Is Here for one of their famous milkshakes and say hello to the animals in their petting zoo out back. Paddleboarding is also fantastic at Oleta State Park and along the scenic route to the Florida Keys!

About the Authors:

Patrick Breshike and Dave Grieser are a married couple living in Miami Beach, FL, with a deep passion for the ocean. Patrick is an artist and underwater photographer who draws inspiration for his work from the magic of the underwater world. Both Patrick and Dave are certified Divemasters and dedicated advocates for ocean conservation and their local LGBTQ+ community. They have been instrumental in a grassroots project to create a marine park in the nearshore waters off Miami Beach, aiming to protect the endangered ecosystem and ensure it’s safe for the community to visit. You can connect with them through their website, MiamiBeachMarinePark.com, or Patrick’s art website, gayfishes.com. Dave and Patrick are working with the local non-profit Urban Paradise Guild to advocate for the Marine Park. Check out urbanparadiseguild.org/lbr for more information.