LGBT2SQ+ Pride at PL3Y!
In my latest canfitpro article LGBT2SQ+ and Exercise, I talked about how gyms and fitness spaces need to go beyond just putting up a ‘Rainbow Sticker’ when creating welcoming, safe and inclusive spaces for LGBT2SQ+ people to exercise.
One way that I mentioned we can foster more supportive spaces in the fitness industry is to to recognize, amplify and celebrate LGBT2SQ+ fitness leaders amongst us.
In honour of Pride Month, here are some of the rockstar fitness leaders in our PL3Y community who are proud to be LGBT2SQ+
When I think about the intersection of physical activity and being LGBTQ, I think of community and self discovery. I think me discovering my athletic abilities was a byproduct of embracing my queerness. My younger, undiscovered, closeted self thought she was terrible at all athletics and closed herself off to trying. "You already suck. So why bother?" Fast forward to me coming out and opening my world, I tried bouldering. Come to find out, there are tons of queer people who climb! Even though that didn't stick, the success I felt made me feel comfortable enough to revisit sports and realizing that I might not be a terrible athlete after all! I simply lacked the confidence and support to try.
- Rhea Casido
PL3Y Regional Operator
Co-Owner, The Play Brigade
It wasn't until my mid twenties that I fell in love with physical fitness, but when I did it became a passion and lifelong companion. Exercise, especially through dance, has connected me to my body and self through the years in profound ways. The outlets I've been given to physically express myself have allowed me to explore my identity and come to understand, welcome, and celebrate my identity as a queer person, as well as find a like-souled community. As someone who's also struggled with my mental health over many years, being able to exercise and reconnect with my body has always been an essential tool in my overall wellness. My relationship with my body has always been complex through challenges of illness and injury, and those times I've been able to access physical activity are always the times when I feel the most at peace with that journey.
- Rose McNeil
PL3Y Education School Program Instructor
The role that physical activity has in my life is community! I have been very involved with sports my entire life and as an adult there are few options for team sports. I love my weekly fitness classes, going to softball or just going to the park and playing spike ball with friends. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without being an active person.
- Brock Farkas
PL3Y Choreographer
Feeling comfortable in my femininity was something I struggled with as a kid. Even though my “girly” side exists, I felt more comfortable expressing myself as a “tomboy”. I started as a figure skater but stopped once ballet became a requirement; looking back I realize now that growing up, I was being pushed into performing as feminine instead of expressing what came naturally. In an act of rebellion, I took up ball sports and became a high level athlete in high school. Things like dance gave me anxiety and I made sure to stay clear of it. It was too “girly” and I didn’t feel comfortable being girly. Now as an adult, I’ve been able to explore other forms of fitness and physical activity, including dance! My younger self would never believe me but through dance, I have grown to be more comfortable with how my body moves naturally. I now believe that fitness and physical activity knows no gender. I can play sports, break it down on the dance floor, and STILL be myself!
- Vi Phan
PL3Y Regional Operator
Co-Owner, The Play Brigade
Sports and physical activity have always given me an outlet to relieve stress, whether that stress was from academics, peers, coming out, #adulting (and now, parenting). It wasn't just the physical side of things that I benefited from - the social connections, getting outdoors, seeing new places, and learning new skills gave my spirit and mind something to look forward to and focus on.
Perhaps the greatest impact that physical activity has had on my life was the revelation that the energy of movement unleashes greater versions of me. As my heart races, muscles work, and my mind focuses on new skills or applying strategies, I tap into versions of myself that feel unstoppable.
And that's exactly what my mission is through my work with PL3Y: to give kids an opportunity to connect to the 'awesomeness' within them, through movement and play. My goal is to help them tap into the life force energy within them.
My wish is that every kid has a moment to stand in their 'bubble of awesome' and feel the power of the spark that's within them, so they can confidently go out there and share their unique talents, gifts, perspectives, style and ideas with the world!
- Melanie Levenberg
CEO/Founder