Thursday, March 23, 2017

Stonewall Fitness: Exercise Doesn't Discriminate and Neither Should You

By David Smith
PictureLGBT+ Sporting Events Celebrate Diversity through Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best
10-20+ years ago, the LGBT+ community faced a lot more discrimination and anti-LGBT+ harassment. While we are not totally free from that today, it is clear that the safe havens of gay bars and such don’t quite serve the same purpose as they once did. Are LGBT+ oriented bars and businesses going away? Not quite.

Exercise and fitness are non-discriminatory. However people in the exercise and fitness industry are. For generations a lot of false myths and bad advice in regards to exercise have floated around based on racist, sexist, anti-LGBT+ stigmas that have long held people back from achieving their true physical potential. 

Picture
​However nothing can discriminate against hard work, we’re all human and our bodies are designed to perform the same functions regardless of race, gender orientation, sexual identity, religion, age or nationality. When it comes time to exercise and train, everybody is on the same level. By level I mean everybody should be willing and ready to put in the same amount of work to accomplish their personal best.

Everybody exists at different planes of fitness, yes. Some people are faster, others can jump higher or lift more weight; they could be taller, shorter, different body type or more genetically inclined to succeed at certain tasks. There are people just starting out and others who are experienced. In the end though none of that matters, because everybody succeeds on the same level. Somebody might be struggling to lift over 100lbs, the person next to them might max out at only 10lbs. Even though there is 90lbs separating them, they are both working equally as hard to accomplishing the same task. Thus, they are training on the same level. 

Picture
​Everybody has started from the bottom and got to where they are on their own through dedication or hard work. They did not become the best through talent, nor because of their race, gender orientation, sexual identity, financial status, age or nationality. Stigmas and stereotypes exist and even scientific data might lend some level of truth to them, however history has consistently shown that people who’ve long been assumed to be weak have overcome such barriers and become just as strong and fit, if not more than their more privileged counterparts.

Is there need for “safe space” gyms? Yes, and by that a facility that is physically designed to accommodate the needs of a very diverse LGBT+ clientele. Gyms can be quite discriminating places, from weight selection, colors, layout. All based on old, long debunked myths and stereotypes that still separate us; especially among gender.

The environmental aspects of a gym should not create a barrier that is preventing you from accomplishing your fitness goals; going in with a plan, attitude to achieve and confidence within yourself to succeed and you as an individual can help overcome those things that separate us.

​A “safe space” is no longer just enough; either everybody succeeds or nobody succeeds. The differences that separate us should be left outside. When in the gym, the only goal is to do our best and succeed at our best, to succeed together. 

Picture
Photo courtesy of Liger Fitness
​Walk into any gym and take note of all the diverse people you see. Different body types, different levels of fitness, different genders, religions, income levels races, nationalities and sexual orientations. So many things that are different but what is common about all those people? They are at the gym for the same reason, to be active and fit. No matter the differences, we’re all their for the same reason; to do our best.

Picture David Smith is a coach,  exercise professional, athlete, blogger and owner of Stonewall Fitness. He is a certified personal trainer and holds a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and Nutrition.