Pride on Foot, LLC works to create gender-inclusive and LGBTQIA-accepting fitness communities. Through education and consultations with run groups, race directors, and fitness organizations we teach the urgency to affirm the rights of Transgender, Queer-gender, Intersex, Gender Non-Conforming, and Non-binary persons and allow them to compete without harassment or interrogation. We acknowledge that sex and gender identity & expression is a basic human right.
Within the running community races are divided into two sex categories—male and female. But for people who are Transgender, Queer-gender, Intersex, Gender Non-conforming, and/or Non-binary, that simple question can feel like a trick. For many people sex and gender are a spectrum, and cannot be whittled down to two distinct choices. Even science has proven that there are people who have a combination of male and female sex characteristics, and are often classified as a third sex—Intersex.
When gender diversity is not acknowledged the people in those groups can feel that they are not able to live authentically, or will be shunned within groups or at sports events that they love. Their decision to register as a particular gender at events could be called into question, leading to a potentially humiliating and dehumanizing encounter as race officials debate their sex.
At Pride On Foot we believe that no one should have to endure this type of treatment. Normalizing multiple gender options, and acknowledging that people may not identify as the sex they identify as is the best way to allow all people to participate without undue judgment, and lead to a more unified community. Gender equality must include all genders, and not be limited to just men and women.
98% of TG people who experienced 4 or more instances of discrimination or violence thought about suicide. Of that 51% attempted it.
30% of TG adults attempted suicide b/c they were physically attacked in a public place (like a bathroom)
72% of hate-crime homicides in 2013 involved TG Women.
62% of Intersex people have face discrimination b/c of being Intersex
54% of Multiracial TG People attempted suicide. Pressures due to Transphobia and Racial Discrimination.
50% of TG Male youth have attempted suicide b/c of rejection from school or family.
30% of TG Female youth have attempted suicide b/c of rejection from school or family.
42% of Non Binary youth have attempted suicide b/c of rejection from school or family.
“Trans suicide… a product of transphobic society that isolates trans people from support and resources, and surrounds them with messages that they are freakish, wrong, and unloveable.” —Bri Barnett, Trans Lifeline.
We can do better, we can be actively inclusive, not just tolerant.