Shout to all the queers out their in gyms, surrounded by people that don't look like you, worried that you'll get weird looks in the changing room, or that there's not a changing room right for you or not even feeling comfortable in a damn changing room or worried about wearing shorts and you haven't shaved or wearing shorts and you did shave or if they're looking at you because you just lifted some heavy shit or if they're looking at you because you're different or they're confused or just because they're an asshole.
I don't know about y'all, but the gyms I go to are filled with seemingly straight people. Straight, white dudes that sometimes act like this is "their" place.
And sometimes I self conscious as hell.
Will they look at me weird when I'm changing because I wear boxer briefs? Should I not wear this snapback and tank top? Should I have shaven my legs when I showered this morning?
It's not always an easy rode to navigate. There's no magical phrase I can say that can make us more comfortable in the gym and feel okay in every situation.
I do know I try my best to keep my head up high. Or at least as high as every one else's. I'm not trying to be better than them, I just want to pick up heavy shit. And I want that shit to be heavier than the shit I picked up last month.
It goes get easier. You go in with friends. You get more comfortable with the machines and the exercises. You start to recognize friendly faces. You slowly gain confidence. Hopefully, you're in a gym that is actually filled 100% with awesome, open-minded people and it just took gaining some self confidence to realize that. (Been there!)
But if you don't show up and try you'll never reach that point.
I know most of you can relate to this - straight or not. The gym can be an intimidating place for a lot of us.
Share your space. Help others out. Be a baddass, not an asshole.
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