November 4, 2022
History, context and language is extremely important if we want to be wholly inclusive of the LGBTQI+ community. In the early hours of June 28th, 1969, eight New York officers of the Public Morals Department (PMD) raided the Stonewall Inn, a prominent gay bar in the New York Village district.
History, context and language is extremely important if we want to be wholly inclusive of the LGBTQI+ community. In the early hours of June 28th, 1969, eight New York officers of the Public Morals Department (PMD) raided the Stonewall Inn, a prominent gay bar in the New York Village district. Raids of this nature were not uncommon during this period of time, and the PMD, at the time, were tasked with policing “criminal activity” in New York, and on this particular night, one of many raids against the LGBTQI+ community, changed the course of history for gay people across the world.
Common historical accounts inform us that Marsha P Johnson, a black transgender pioneer and activist, was one of the first to retaliate against the brutality that plagued the LGBTQI+ community by the NY police. This fateful night at the Stonewall Inn sparked the Gay Liberation movement, in what started as a series of protests that carried the LGBTQ community across decades to fight for their right to live truthfully.
EvolveYou has grown from a small group of individuals to a global community of diverse women from all over the world, coming together from different backgrounds, races, sexualities and gender identities as a movement of its own to empower one another on their journey to living a healthier, more confident life, both physically and mentally.
Over the course of the pandemic and what has been in many ways a turning point and revolutionary year for the 21st century, we continue to learn and grow with our EvolveYou community. We value and appreciate that our community is a safe space and space of inclusion, acceptance and kindness and we want every single individual to know you matter, you are important and you will always be a part of our familia.
Fitness has walked a delicate balance within the LGBTQI+ community for a long time, many LGBTQI+ people have suffered from depression and anxiety issues stemming from the systematic oppression they have endured in the face of workplace discrimination or even at home, and for parts of this community fitness has proven a therapeutic escape from those woes. On the other hand, being a sexual minority in what is deemed as a “Default Heterosexual” environment has proved difficult for many. Studies show that, though our society is inching closer towards a more inclusive and considerate place, homophobia/heterosexism is still a concerning issue within the fitness world for the LGBTQ+ community.
With the fitness industry being heavily dominated by cis-heterosexual individuals, two of the biggest issues facing the LGBTQI+ community is Heterosexism, the idea that anything other than heterosexuality is seen as negative, this encompasses homophobia and biphobia; and cissexism, the belief or assumption that cis people's gender/identities, are more "natural and legitimate" than those of trans and non-binary people. EvolveYou is run by a diverse group of staff members who aim to change this narrative within fitness, and provide training programmes to our audiences that are inclusive and welcoming of all.
EvolveYou wants all LGBTQI+ people to know that no matter who you are, how you look or present yourself, you are welcome in this safe place that we have created. You are welcome to live your life truthfully and honestly within the EvolveYou community. We aim to continue to raise awareness for our members and strive to be a company you can rely on.
For those of you who are not an LGBTQ+ individual but want to show your support for the community, you can:
- Support LGBTQ+ Content Creators.
- Donate to LGBTQ+ Charities which aim to raise awareness.
- Listen to podcasts based on the experiences of Queer people and the oppression they have faced.
- Watch Documentaries, films and TV shows based on the history of LGBTQ+ people.
- Educate the people around you who may still perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
Educate yourself on the history of the LGBTQ+ Community with resources available at:
https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/
http://genderedintelligence.co.uk/
https://www.ukblackpride.org.uk/
https://www.stonewall.org.uk/
References:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0966369042000258668
https://www.girlsgonestrong.com/blog/articles/3-roadblocks-lgbtq-women-face-in-fitness-spaces/
If you would like to share your story or any experiences of being LGBTQ+ within the fitness world, please contact community@evolveyou.app for any future collaborations.
