Supporting the Trans Community in Fitness - Ep 106

The fitness industry should be a place of empowerment, health, and community—but too often, trans individuals face barriers, discrimination, and exclusion in fitness spaces. In this episode, we dive into why supporting trans inclusion in fitness matters and what we can do as instructors, trainers, and fitness enthusiasts to create more welcoming spaces.

With harmful policies and rhetoric targeting trans people on the rise, it’s more important than ever to take a stand. Whether you're a fitness professional looking to make your classes more inclusive or simply someone who wants to be a better ally, this episode will give you actionable steps to create affirming spaces where everyone can feel strong, safe, and celebrated.

Tune in to learn:
✅ Why trans inclusion in fitness matters now more than ever
✅ How to make your fitness spaces and classes truly welcoming
✅ Ways to advocate for trans rights in the fitness industry and beyond

Let’s work together to make movement a space where everyone belongs! 💜

📚 Resources & Recommendations:

🏋️‍♂️ Follow These Trans Fitness Professionals:

• Justice Roe Williams – @justiceroewilliams (Founder of Fitness 4 All Bodies)
• Aydian Dowling – @alionsfear (Trans fitness coach & speaker)
• KC Slack – @kc.slack (Strength coach & powerlifting advocate)
• Schuyler Bailar – @pinkmantaray (NCAA athlete & trans inclusion speaker)
• Dr. Asher Lurie – @asherlurie (Physical therapist & movement specialist)
• Asher Freeman - @nonnormativebodyclub (Trans personal trainer and founder of Nonnormative Body Club)

📖 Books to Read:

• Trans Bodies, Trans Selves – Edited by Laura Erickson-Schroth
• The Transgender Athlete – By Katie Barnes
• Life Isn’t Binary – By Meg-John Barker & Alex Iantaffi
• Trans Like Me – By CN Lester
• Bodies and Barriers: Queer Activists on Health – Edited by Adrian Shanker
• Deconstructing the Fitness-Industrial Complex: How to Resist, Disrupt, and Reclaim What It Means to Be Fit in American Culture - by Justice Roe Williams

💡 Organizations to Support & Learn From:

• Fitness 4 All Bodies – fitness4allbodies.com
• Trans Lifeline (Support for Trans Individuals) – translifeline.org
• The Trevor Project (Crisis Support for LGBTQ+ Youth) – thetrevorproject.org

📢 Enjoying the podcast? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review to help us spread the message of inclusivity in fitness! Let’s keep breaking body biases together. 💪✨

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

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Transcript

Hey everyone, welcome back to the Breaking Body Biases podcast! I’m [Your Name], and today we’re diving into an important and necessary conversation: how we, as fitness professionals and allies, can better support the trans community in fitness spaces.

Before we dive in, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the reality that trans people are facing right now. Across the country and around the world, we’re seeing a rise in anti-trans policies—bans on gender-affirming healthcare, restrictions on sports participation, and even laws that erase trans identities from public spaces. These policies aren’t just political debates; they have real, harmful consequences on trans people’s lives, mental health, and safety. And for those of us in fitness, a field that should be about empowerment and well-being, we have a responsibility to push back against exclusion and create spaces where trans individuals are not just tolerated, but truly welcomed and celebrated.

Fitness should never be a place where someone feels like they have to prove their identity or fight for basic respect. It should be a space for joy, strength, and community. That’s why it’s more important than ever for us to actively support our trans friends, clients, and colleagues—because inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a commitment to making sure everyone has access to movement, health, and belonging without fear or barriers.

Fitness should be a space where everyone feels welcome, supported, and safe. But for many trans individuals, stepping into a gym or a group fitness class can be intimidating, even unsafe. That’s why today, we’re talking about real, actionable ways we can create more inclusive and affirming spaces.

Now, before we get into it, I want to acknowledge that I am always learning, and I encourage you to do the same. If you have feedback, ideas, or experiences to share, my inbox is always open. Let’s continue growing together!

UNDERSTANDING BARRIERS FOR TRANS PEOPLE IN FITNESS 

So, what are some of the biggest barriers that trans people face in fitness spaces?

1️⃣ First, there’s the issue of feeling unwelcome—or even unsafe—in traditional gym environments. Many fitness spaces have a history of being cisnormative, meaning they assume everyone fits into a male/female binary.

2️⃣ Then there’s the challenge of locker rooms and changing areas. Many gyms still only offer gendered spaces, which puts trans and nonbinary folks in a difficult position.

3️⃣ Misinformation and assumptions about trans bodies in fitness also play a huge role. Every body is different, and trans individuals may have unique needs based on hormones, surgeries, or personal comfort—but that doesn’t mean they are less capable or should be treated differently in a negative way.

4️⃣ Finally, language matters. The way fitness instructors cue movements, refer to the body, and structure classes can either make someone feel included or alienated.

WAYS TO MAKE FITNESS MORE INCLUSIVE 

✨ So what can we do as fitness professionals and allies? Let’s talk about real changes we can make, starting today.

✅ Use Inclusive Language

• Instead of saying “Hey ladies” or “Okay guys,” try neutral phrases like “Hey everyone” or “Team.”
• Ask for pronouns if it feels appropriate, and normalize sharing your own.

✅ Create Safe Spaces

• Advocate for gender-neutral restrooms and changing areas.
• Make it clear that your fitness space is welcoming—this could be through signage, statements in your class description, or simply modeling respect and inclusion.

✅ Representation Matters

• Feature trans and nonbinary folks in your marketing materials.
• If you have a social media presence, highlight diverse voices and experiences.

✅ Educate Yourself & Others

• Take the time to learn. There are amazing trans educators sharing their experiences—follow them, read their work, listen to their stories.
• If you have a fitness business, offer inclusivity training to your staff.

✅ Advocate for Policy Changes

• Encourage gyms and studios to update policies around gender inclusivity.
• If you see a space that isn’t welcoming, say something. Being an ally means speaking up even when it’s uncomfortable.

Before we wrap up, I want to leave you with this: Inclusion isn’t about perfection—it’s about intention. None of us will get it right 100% of the time, but what matters is that we keep trying, learning, and advocating for a fitness industry that truly welcomes all bodies.

So here’s my challenge for you: What’s one step you can take today to make your fitness space more inclusive? Maybe it’s adjusting your language, adding pronouns to your intro, or even just listening to and amplifying trans voices in fitness.

💌 I’d love to hear from you! Send me a DM or leave a comment with your thoughts. And if this episode resonated with you, please share it with a friend or fellow fitness professional so we can keep this conversation going.

Until next time, keep creating spaces where everyone belongs. See you next week!

4o

You said:

Can you please provide me with a paragraph or two I will add to the opening about current politics and policies against trans folks and how its important to support our trans friends

ChatGPT said:

Absolutely! Here’s a paragraph you can add to your opening to address the current political landscape and why supporting trans individuals in fitness—and beyond—is more important than ever:

🎙️ Before we dive in, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the reality that trans people are facing right now. Across the country and around the world, we’re seeing a rise in anti-trans policies—bans on gender-affirming healthcare, restrictions on sports participation, and even laws that erase trans identities from public spaces. These policies aren’t just political debates; they have real, harmful consequences on trans people’s lives, mental health, and safety. And for those of us in fitness, a field that should be about empowerment and well-being, we have a responsibility to push back against exclusion and create spaces where trans individuals are not just tolerated, but truly welcomed and celebrated.

Fitness should never be a place where someone feels like they have to prove their identity or fight for basic respect. It should be a space for joy, strength, and community. That’s why it’s more important than ever for us to actively support our trans friends, clients, and colleagues—because inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a commitment to making sure everyone has access to movement, health, and belonging without fear or barriers.