Have you ever felt like an outsider in the great outdoors, as if the prevailing image of who “belongs” in nature doesn’t quite reflect you? For many LGBTQ+ individuals, this feeling is a disheartening reality. The outdoor industry has historically presented a limited and often exclusive view of who an “outdoorsy person” is, leaving marginalized communities feeling unseen and unheard. But a powerful shift is underway. This blog post celebrates LGBTQ+-led organizations that are courageously redefining what it means to be queer in the outdoors, building inclusive safe spaces, and championing a more equitable, diverse, and vibrant natural world.
In this guide, you’ll discover:
- A carefully curated list of ten incredible LGBTQ+-led organizations revolutionizing the outdoor experience.
- How these organizations are dismantling barriers and creating havens of safety and belonging for queer individuals.
- Actionable steps you can take today to support these vital organizations and become an active ally in building a more inclusive outdoor community.
Diversify Outdoors: Championing Outdoor Equity and Inclusion 🔗
Diversify Outdoors is a dynamic coalition uniting digital influencers, passionate entrepreneurs, and experienced consultants, all fiercely dedicated to advocating for a more equitable and inclusive outdoor landscape. This powerful organization is committed to disrupting outdated narratives and championing richer, more inclusive portrayals of outdoor recreation across the United States.
How Diversify Outdoors Amplifies Diverse Voices 🔗
- Amplifying Underrepresented Voices: Diversify Outdoors actively elevates the stories and experiences of people of color and other historically marginalized communities, groups that have been consistently underrepresented and overlooked in the outdoor industry.
- Promoting Active Allyship: The organization provides invaluable resources and clear guidance on how to be an effective ally, empowering everyone to actively participate in building a more inclusive and welcoming outdoors.
- Challenging Outdated Narratives: By showcasing the diverse individuals and vibrant communities who are already passionately engaging with the outdoors, Diversify Outdoors is redefining who is seen, celebrated, and belongs in these cherished spaces.
The Venture Out Project: Building Confidence Through LGBTQ+ Outdoor Adventures 🔗
The Venture Out Project (TVOP) is steadfastly committed to creating safe, affirming, and transformative outdoor experiences for the queer community. They offer backpacking trips, wilderness expeditions, and other adventures meticulously designed for LGBTQ+ individuals to explore nature with confidence and pride.
The Venture Out Project: Impactful LGBTQ+ Community Building 🔗
- Building Unshakeable Confidence: TVOP cultivates a deeply supportive environment where participants can explore the outdoors without the weight of judgment, discrimination, or fear.
- Fostering a Thriving Community: Their thoughtfully designed trips provide invaluable opportunities for LGBTQ+ individuals to connect with like-minded adventurers, forge lasting friendships, and share their unique experiences in nature.
- Expanding Access to Nature: Through their dedicated volunteer program and ambitious nationwide expansion plans, TVOP is actively working to make enriching outdoor adventures accessible to queer people in every corner of the country.
Wild Diversity: Decolonizing Outdoor Spaces for BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ Communities 🔗
Based in Portland, Oregon, Wild Diversity is a groundbreaking nonprofit dedicated to decolonizing outdoor spaces and boldly redefining who can rightfully claim space in nature. They prioritize diverse leadership, provide vital educational resources, and focus on community building to create a truly welcoming and affirming environment for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and LGBTQ2S+ communities.
Wild Diversity’s Approach to Outdoor Inclusion 🔗
- Prioritizing Diverse Leadership: Wild Diversity ensures that their programs and initiatives are led by individuals from diverse backgrounds, authentically reflecting the rich tapestry of the communities they serve.
- Providing Essential Educational Resources: They offer invaluable resources and comprehensive training to help people understand the historical and systemic barriers that have unjustly prevented BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ communities from freely accessing and enjoying the outdoors.
- Cultivating Community Connections: Wild Diversity creates inclusive spaces for both novice and experienced adventurers to connect, learn from each other, and explore the wonders of the outdoors together, fostering a sense of belonging and shared passion.
OUT4S: Engaging the LGBTQIA+ Community in Environmental Sustainability 🔗
OUT4S is a dynamic organization dedicated to actively engaging the LGBTQIA+ community in critical conversations and actions surrounding social and environmental justice and sustainability. They host a highly anticipated national conference that provides a vital platform to discuss the unique role of the LGBTQ+ community in these crucial areas.
OUT4S: Contributions to Environmentalism and LGBTQ+ Engagement 🔗
- Promoting Sustainable Practices: OUT4S’s innovative Greener Pride initiative empowers the LGBTQIA+ community to adopt more sustainable practices in events, businesses, and community-building centers, fostering a culture of environmental responsibility.
- Combating Climate Change: The organization cultivates a robust and dedicated space for addressing the urgent challenge of climate change and championing sustainable ideals, inspiring action and driving positive change.
- Building Actionable Content: OUT4S develops impactful and actionable content through face-to-face interactions, engaging publishing platforms, and diverse multimedia channels, ensuring that their message reaches a wide audience and inspires meaningful action.
Unlikely Hikers: Building a Body-Positive Outdoor Community 🔗
Unlikely Hikers is a powerful anti-racist, body-positive space where folks can confidently and safely enjoy the outdoors, free from judgment and societal pressures. With a strong and engaged social media presence and a thriving international community, Unlikely Hikers is actively breaking down barriers and creating meaningful connections for those who may have felt excluded from traditional outdoor recreation.
Unlikely Hikers’ Focus on Outdoor Inclusivity 🔗
- Championing Body Positivity: Unlikely Hikers boldly challenges traditional and often unrealistic stereotypes of who can be an “outdoorsy person,” creating a welcoming space for people of all sizes, abilities, and backgrounds.
- Commitment to Anti-Racism: The organization is deeply committed to fostering an anti-racist environment where people of color feel safe, respected, and valued.
- Cultivating a Supportive Community: Unlikely Hikers provides a vibrant platform for like-minded outdoor enthusiasts to connect, share their experiences, and offer unwavering support to one another.
Outdoor Asian: Connecting History, Culture, and Outdoor Recreation 🔗
Outdoor Asian is a groundbreaking organization that seamlessly connects history, culture, and recreation to ensure that AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) individuals can confidently venture into the outdoors while embracing their whole selves. In a society that often erases POC from mainstream narratives, Outdoor Asian works tirelessly to create a safe and welcoming space for AAPI individuals to explore their profound connection to nature and their heritage.
Outdoor Asian’s Multifaceted Approach to Cultural Preservation 🔗
- Deepening Cultural Connection: Outdoor Asian enriches the outdoor experience by connecting it to food, culture, community, and history, creating a more meaningful and relevant experience for participants.
- Prioritizing Environmental Stewardship: They place conservation and environmental concerns at the very heart of their mission, diligently teaching the crucial principles of “Leave No Trace” to ensure the responsible enjoyment and preservation of our natural world.
- Providing Crucial Community Support: Recognizing the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, Outdoor Asian provides a safe and supportive space for those who have been threatened by recent discriminatory legislation and actively partners with other outdoor groups to drive grassroots change.
QPOC Hikers: Uplifting Queer People of Color in the Outdoors 🔗
QPOC Hikers firmly believes that everyone has a valuable story to share and is dedicated to uplifting the voices and experiences of queer people of color in the outdoors. By raising awareness about the unique issues faced by this often underrepresented population, they provide a safe and empowering space to explore their shared interests, build community, and foster a sense of belonging.
QPOC Hikers’ Commitment to Safety, Solidarity, and Accessibility 🔗
- Creating Safe Outdoor Spaces: QPOC Hikers intentionally cultivates outdoor communities where queer people of color can feel genuinely safe, supported, and celebrated for who they are.
- Prioritizing Solidarity on the Trails: By prioritizing solidarity on their hikes, they reduce the intimidation factor that often prevents many from exploring their outdoor interests, making nature accessible to all.
- Ensuring Accessibility for All: QPOC Hikers thoughtfully hosts hikes on a diverse range of trails, ensuring that anyone can join, meeting participants where they are, and ensuring that the group stays together, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared accomplishment.
Queer Nature: Bridging the Gap Between the Natural World and the Queer Community 🔗
Queer Nature plays a pivotal role in bridging the often-overlooked gap between the natural world and the queer community. This unique organization is characterized by its innovative approach to environmental and nature-based education, its thought-provoking public mysticism and scholarship, and its transformative social sculpture initiatives.
Queer Nature’s Unique Approach to Environmentalism 🔗
- Empowering Through Place-Based Education: Queer Nature’s mentorship programs inspire participants to develop practical skills that can be used to solve community problems at the ground level, including naturalist studies, traditional handcrafts, and essential survival skills.
- Acknowledging Colonial and Indigenous Histories: They emphasize the importance of listening to and building respectful relationships with ecological systems and their inhabitants, while also acknowledging the complex colonial and Indigenous histories of the land.
- Cultivating New Narratives of Belonging: Queer Nature envisions their spaces as fertile ground for cultivating new narratives and carving out a corner of the world where everyone feels a profound sense of belonging and connection.
EDGE Outdoors: Empowering BIWOC in Snow Sports Through Access and Education 🔗
EDGE Outdoors is dedicated to providing access and creating opportunities for BIWOC (Black, Indigenous Women of Color) to confidently participate in snow sports. They offer a comprehensive range of programs, including avalanche education courses, introductory backcountry courses, athlete development programs, and instructor training, all accompanied by valuable scholarship opportunities.
EDGE Outdoors’ Focus on Safety and Empowerment for Women of Color 🔗
- Creating Safe and Welcoming Spaces: EDGE Outdoors prioritizes the creation of a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for women and femme-identifying people of color to learn, grow, and build a supportive community.
- Developing Essential Skills: They offer a diverse range of courses and programs designed to help BIWOC develop the skills and confidence they need to excel in snow sports, empowering them to push their boundaries and achieve their goals.
- Breaking Down Barriers to Entry: By providing access, resources, and opportunities, EDGE Outdoors is actively working to change the culture on the slopes and create a more inclusive and equitable environment for BIWOC, ensuring that everyone has the chance to experience the joy and freedom of snow sports.
Queer Climbing Collective: Providing Opportunities in the Climbing World 🔗
The Queer Climbing Collective (QCC) is driven by a powerful mission: to challenge existing narratives and create opportunities for all individuals in the climbing world. By providing more resources and regularly collaborating with other like-minded groups, they create space for intersectionality and foster a welcoming environment for diverse and coexisting communities.
Queer Climbing Collective’s Initiatives for Inclusivity 🔗
- Building a Thriving Community: QCC fosters a supportive and inclusive community where queer climbers can connect, share their experiences, and learn from one another, creating a strong sense of belonging.
- Facilitating Professional Development: They are committed to providing more opportunities for their members to learn and grow professionally within the climbing industry, including becoming skilled setters, knowledgeable guides, and inspiring coaches.
- Expanding Access Through Resource Provision: QCC actively challenges narrow ideas of what a climber “looks like” by providing increased resources and opportunities for queer individuals to get involved in climbing, making the sport more accessible and welcoming to all.
Taking Action: Supporting LGBTQ+ Inclusion in the Outdoors 🔗
Now that you’ve discovered these incredible organizations, here are some concrete steps you can take right now to support their vital work and contribute to a more inclusive and welcoming outdoors:
- Donate Generously: Financial contributions are the lifeblood of these organizations, enabling them to expand their programs, reach more people, and create lasting positive change.
- Volunteer Your Time and Skills: Offer your valuable time and skills to support their events, outreach efforts, and community-building activities, making a direct impact on their success.
- Spread the Word Widely: Amplify their stories and missions on social media, within your local community, and among your friends and family, raising awareness and inspiring others to get involved.
- Attend Their Events: Actively participate in their hikes, workshops, and gatherings to demonstrate your unwavering support and connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for inclusivity.
- Advocate for Change: Speak out against discrimination and passionately advocate for policies that promote inclusivity, equity, and access in the outdoors, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in nature.
Conclusion: The Outdoors is For Everyone – Let’s Make it So! 🔗
The outdoors is a place for everyone to connect with nature, find solace, experience joy, and build lasting memories. By actively supporting LGBTQ+-led organizations, we can help create a more inclusive, welcoming, and equitable environment for all. Let’s work together, hand in hand, to redefine what it truly means to be an “outdoorsy person” and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive and feel a profound sense of belonging in the natural world.
FAQ: Answering Your Questions About LGBTQ+ Inclusion in the Outdoors 🔗
- Why is it so important to support LGBTQ+-led organizations in the outdoors?
- LGBTQ+-led organizations play a crucial role in creating safe and affirming spaces where queer individuals can connect with nature, build supportive communities, and thrive without fear of discrimination, judgment, or prejudice.
- What are some of the most common barriers that LGBTQ+ people face when trying to access and enjoy the outdoors?
- Common barriers include feeling unsafe or unwelcome in certain environments, a lack of visible representation, socioeconomic disparities, and limited access to inclusive resources, gear, and programs.
- How can I be a more effective ally to the LGBTQ+ community in the outdoors?
- You can be a powerful ally by actively supporting LGBTQ+-led organizations, speaking out against discrimination and bias, advocating for inclusive policies and practices, and creating welcoming and affirming spaces in your own outdoor activities and circles.
- What are some valuable resources for LGBTQ+ people who are interested in getting more involved in outdoor activities?
- Invaluable resources include LGBTQ+-led organizations like the ones highlighted above, supportive online communities, and local outdoor groups that prioritize inclusivity, diversity, and respect for all individuals.
- What are some practical steps I can take to make my outdoor events and activities more inclusive and welcoming for everyone?
- You can make your events more inclusive by using inclusive and gender-neutral language, respecting individuals’ chosen pronouns, providing gender-neutral restroom facilities, and actively promoting diversity and representation in all aspects of your planning and execution.
- What exactly is “queer ecology,” and why is it gaining importance in environmental discussions?
- Queer ecology is an emerging field that explores the intricate relationships between queerness and nature, challenging traditional, often rigid notions of gender and sexuality in environmental thought and promoting a more inclusive and holistic understanding of the natural world.
- How can I best support LGBTQ+ youth who are interested in exploring and connecting with the outdoors?
- You can support LGBTQ+ youth by volunteering your time with organizations that provide outdoor programs specifically designed for queer youth, donating to scholarship funds that help them access these programs, and creating mentorship opportunities that provide guidance and encouragement.
- What concrete steps can outdoor brands and companies take to become more inclusive and supportive of the LGBTQ+ community?
- Outdoor brands can demonstrate their commitment to inclusivity by featuring diverse models in their marketing campaigns, providing financial support to LGBTQ+-led organizations, and designing and creating products that cater to a wide range of bodies, abilities, and identities.
- If I witness discrimination or bias against someone in the outdoors, what is the best way to address the situation safely and effectively?
- If you witness discrimination or bias, prioritize safety first. If it feels safe to do so, speak up against the discriminatory behavior. Offer support to the person being targeted, and report the incident to the appropriate authorities or organization, ensuring that the issue is addressed and that steps are taken to prevent future occurrences.
- What are some of the long-term goals for achieving true and lasting LGBTQ+ inclusion and equity in the outdoors?
- Long-term goals include creating a more equitable and diverse outdoor industry at all levels, significantly increasing the representation of LGBTQ+ people in leadership positions, and ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, have equal access to safe, affirming, and enriching outdoor experiences.